Well, my Cinekinder, I have just returned fron the 18th annual T.O. Jewish Film Fest and as always it was a very interesting experience. I saw a total 0f six films, this year of varied content and genre and they were in order of viewing...
The first film we saw was on opening night (...it's opening night, it's opening night...), was just delightful. it was called, A MATTER OF SIZE (SIPPUR GADOL), directed by SHARON MAYMON and EREZ TADMOR. It took us in to the subculture of the sumo wrestler, and it was wonderful. Cleverly, they had a demo of sumo skills before the film, to prep us for the delights ahead.
Our next film was about all the creative movie talent, who escaped from Eastern Europe during WW2 and made there way to America. It was called, CINEMA'S EXILES: FROM HITLER TO HOLLYWOOD, directed by KAREN THOMAS. Being a movie-guy, this flick was a natural for me, and it was very well-made. Such well-known directors as BILLY WILDER, FRED ZINNEMAN, FRITZ LANG, and actors like PETER LORRE, fled to the USA, to flee Hitler's wrath.
Next up, was a panel discussion about Jews and comic books. This tied in to the major theme of the festival, which was cleverly titled: PEOPLE OF THE (COMIC ) BOOK. The panel was composed of personal favourite), HARVEY PEKAR, PAUL BUHLE and BEN KATCHOR. The discussion was a little on the dull side, but the highlight was talking to Harvey himself, after bthe forum. After getting his autograph, my wife, Julia and I told him how much we enjoyed, the movie, AMERICAN SPLENDOR, starrring PAUL GIAMATTI, as PEKAR. We asked if the movie helped his public profile? He said it did for sure and that it also led to GIAMATTI, getting more challenging roles. he also had soms dish for us: apparently his real-lie wife, did not get along with his celluloid wife, HOPE DAVIS (interesting). Mr. PEKAR, could not have been more gracious, meeting him was a highlight for both of us.
Next up was a film, I was really excited about, it was directed by, SUSAN WARMS DRYFOOS, and it was called THE LINE KING. It told the story of AL HIRSCHFIELD, who recently passed away at almost 100 years old. AL, was venerated for his caricatures in the Arts and Leisure section. of the Sunday New York Times.
I have followed HIRSCFIELD, for years and was much-beloved by the celebrities, he drew. Some of them were feartured in the film: CAROL CHANNING, KATHERINE HEPBURN and COLLEEN DEWHURST, to name just a few. His story is the story of Broadway itself and the documentary was a fabulous look at a gifted artist whose work was above all not mean and fun (and who among us has not looked for NINA'S in his artwork?
Next up, was BERLIN '36, which I mostly slept through (see program for synopsis. My wife loved it though.
The last film was indeed a highlight. It was a special, second screening of NUREMBERG: IT'S LESSON FOR TODAY(1948), THE SCHULBERG/WALETZKY RESTORATION. This was an incredible film that was document about the NUREMBERG TRIALS, that had been written and directed by STEWART SCHULBERG, based on research done by him and his brother BUDD. The film was commissioned by the US Government and then suppressed, until now. It has been restored by STEWART'S daughter, SANDRA and JOSH WALETZKY.
The film shows the trial and all that unfolded there. It shows many of the atrocities that were perpetrated by the Nazis and was a times very hard to watch. At the end the Nazi defendants, deniedany knowledge of what was going on, under their noses. That would include Hitler's number two, three and four men. Almost all of them were found guilty and hung.
This is an important historical document that must be seen and should be seen. SANDRA, who attended the screening said it would open in NYC in Sept. and hopefully a DVD release would follow.
All in all a splendid Fest, and we all lookk forward to number nineteen next year, on to TIFF 2010, and to theTJFF, mazel tov on your 18th (chai) year.
Until next time Cinefriskies...
T.T.F.N.
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