Jews on Film: Exploring Jewish Stories & Themes in Cinema

Daniel and Harry welcome producer JD Lifshitz to the pod to talk about the 2019 film The Vigil. They cover what JD doesn’t always like about “Jewish” movies, share behind-the-scenes stories from the making of the film, talk about how trauma affects the characters depicted in the film, and think of ways this movie could possibly be more Jewish!As always, they close out the episode by ranking the film’s "Jewishness" in terms of its cast & crew, content, and themes.IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10793644/Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsMcckth7oUIf you're in Los Angeles, go check out The Vigil at The New Beverly Cinema in January:Jan 07- https://thenewbev.com/program/january-7-the-vigil-midnight-show/Jan 14 - https://thenewbev.com/program/january-14-the-vigil-midnight-show/Jan 21 - https://thenewbev.com/program/january-21-the-vigil-midnight-show/Jan 28 - https://thenewbev.com/program/january-28-the-vigil-midnight-show/Connect with Jews on Film online:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpodYouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilmTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod

[originally aired July 7th 2022]In this exciting season two premiere, Harry and Daniel are joined by Jen Stewart of the Borscht Belt Tattler podcast to discuss "Mr Saturday Night" starring and directed by Billy Crystal.Jen explains why she chose the film, her connection to the Borscht Belt, and even surprises Harry and Daniel with a pop quiz on famous Jewish comedians and their real Hebrew names!Movie TrailerIMDB summaryBorscht Belt Tattler PodcastConnect with Jews on Film online:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpodYouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilmTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod

Daniel & Harry welcome writer and podcaster Esther Kustanowitz to discuss Steven Spielberg’s autobiographical 2022 film The Fabelmans, starring Michelle Williams, Gabriel LaBelle, and Paul Dano.They discuss the role Sammy’s Jewishness plays in isolating him from his peers, how his parents’ interests pushed him towards the technical and artistic sides of filmmaking, and how his role as director engendered a sense of emotional detachment throughout the different stages of his young life.As always, they close out the episode by ranking the film’s "Jewishness" in terms of its cast & crew, content, and themes.IMDb - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14208870/Trailer - https://youtu.be/a673B0JInwMEsther’s LinksCheck out The Bagel Report Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bagel-report/id1487559377Follow Esther on Instagram - https://instagram.com/estherkustanowitzFollow Esther on Twitter - https://twitter.com/estherkConnect with Jews on Film online:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpodYouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilmTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod

Daniel & Harry welcome film critic, author, and podcaster Shawn Levy to discuss Paul Mazursky's 1989 film Enemies: A Love Story, starring Ron Silver, Anjelica Huston, Lena Olin, and Malgorzata Zajaczkowska.They discuss what differentiates the experience of the Jewish immigrant to America in the early 20th century, analyze the film’s exploration of survival through children, what’s so special about fruit compote, and track how Herman’s 3 wives represent his connection to his past, present, and future.As always, they close out the episode by ranking the film’s "Jewishness" in terms of its cast & crew, content, and themes.IMDb - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097276/Trailer - https://youtu.be/a2CExCFMSakShawn's LinksCheck out Shawn's books here - https://shawnlevy.com/books/Follow Shawn on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/shawnanthonylevy/Follow Shawn on Twitter - https://twitter.com/shawnlevyConnect with Jews on Film online:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpodYouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilmTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod

In this week’s episode, Daniel & Harry are joined by film critic Danielle Solzman to discuss 1967’s “The Producers,” directed by Mel Brooks and starring Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder.They discuss how the film grapples with questions of how to joke about Nazis, marvel at the impressive musical numbers and choreography, and laugh along at the movies loud and brash comedy. As always, they close out the episode by ranking the film’s "Jewishness" in terms of its cast & crew, content, and themes.IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105327/Movie Trailer - https://youtu.be/z51xeox0JlgFollow Danielle on Twitter - https://twitter.com/daniellesatmCheck out Danielle’s blog Solzy At The Movies - https://www.solzyatthemovies.com/Connect with Jews on Film online:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpodYouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilmTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod

In this week’s episode, Daniel & Harry are joined by writer and podcast host Mark Oppenheimer to discuss Robert Mandel’s 1992 film “School Ties,” starring Brendan Fraser and Matt Damon.They unpack how the film represents widespread antisemitism as it existed at the time, debate the accuracy of its depiction of Jewish practice, and discuss how screenwriter Dick Wolf infuses a Law and Order type intensity into the film.As always, they close out the episode by ranking the film’s "Jewishness" in terms of its cast & crew, content, and themes.IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105327/Movie Trailer - https://youtu.be/bGYOP55A59cMark's LinksGatecrashers - https://www.tabletmag.com/podcasts/gatecrashersSquirrel Hill: The Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting and the Soul of a Neighborhood - https://www.amazon.com/Squirrel-Hill-Synagogue-Shooting-Neighborhood/dp/0525657193/Connect with Jews on Film online:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpodYouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilmTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod

Daniel and Harry welcome Noah Segan, actor/director/writer of the film "Blood Relatives,” to the pod to discuss the 1974 Mel Brooks classic "Young Frankenstein."They discuss themes of fate and repeating the sins of your ancestors, their love of genre films, and the way Mel Brooks embeds Jewishness into his homage of the classic monster film.As always, they close out the episode by ranking the film’s "Jewishness" in terms of its cast & crew, content, and themes.Young Frankenstein IMdB - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072431/Young Frankenstein Movie Trailer - https://youtu.be/sO8g8VmFf0MCheck out Blood Relatives on ShudderFollow Noah on Twitter - https://twitter.com/kidblueConnect with Jews on Film online:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpodYouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilmTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod

Daniel and Harry are joined by Benjamin Stuart Thompson, a multi-venue director of stage, television, and film to discuss the 1933 Marx Brothers classic "Duck Soup."Benjamin shares stories of his grandfather Arthur Sheekman, a writer on "Duck Soup" along with other Marx Brothers films.They discuss the film's depiction of the brothers as "others" in the otherwise strait-laced nation of Freedonia. They also dive into the film’s gags, wordplay, and musical numbers, and observe how the Marx Brothers set the model that would inspire decades of Jewish humor.As always, they close out the episode by ranking the film’s "Jewishness" in terms of its cast & crew, content, and themes.Duck Soup on IMdB - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023969/Duck Soup Movie Trailer - https://youtu.be/9CEdb0sGfaIAvanti Lab: https://www.avantilab.org/Kosher Organic Ranchero: http://www.jewishlifetv.com/videos.php?id=11Connect with Jews on Film online:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpodYouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilmTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod

Daniel and Harry are back for season three of Jews on Film! In this season premiere they welcome Nabil Ayers - music industry entrepreneur, musician, and author to discuss Martin Scorsese's 1985 dark comedy "After Hours" starring Griffin Dunne, Rosanna Arquette, and Linda Fiorentino.They discuss SoHo in the 1980s, Scorsese’s exploration of temptation and punishment, how this film fits into the "Yuppie Nightmare" canon of films alongside others like "Fatal Attraction" and "American Psycho,” and how tough it was to get into a walkup apartment when the buzzer wasn't working.As always, they end the episode by ranking the film’s Jewishness in terms of its cast & crew, content, and themes.IMDb - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088680/Trailer - https://youtu.be/LQRawYZl-lsJoe Frank's NPR Monologue that partially inspired "After Hours"- https://youtu.be/MIG636ri4r8Check out Nabil’s book - My Life in The SunshineConnect with Jews on Film online:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpodYouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilmTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod

In this season two finale of Jews on Film, Daniel and Harry are joined by Ginna Green and Lynn Harris, co-hosts of the podcast A Bintel Brief, to discuss 2019’s “Booksmart” directed by Olivia Wilde and starring Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein.They uncover the coded Jewishness in some of its lead and side characters, debate whether the film’s structure is inherently Jewish or not, and make the case that the film represents in “Jews in the writers’ room.”As always, they end the episode by ranking the film’s Jewishness in terms of its cast & crew, content, and themes.A Bintel Brief Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-bintel-brief/id1577539103YouTube Trailer: https://youtu.be/VjGJm3wV5-IIMDb Page: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1489887/Follow Lynn Harris on Twitter: https://twitter.com/harrislynnFollow Ginna Green on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ginnagreenThe book that loosely inspired "Booksmart" : Kate and Mona in the jungle