JHVC

910.039

The Last Marranos  (1990)

Las

In the late fifteenth century, the glory of Sephardic Jewry on the Iberian Peninsula came to an end. In 1492, the Jews of Spain were expelled; in 1497, the Jews of Portugal forcibly converted. Now they were subject to the Inquisition's harsh punishment for heresy. Despite the danger, however, many of the converted—called marranos (or pigs) by Christians—continued to secretly practice Judaism. Five centuries later, The Last Marranos takes a fascinating look at the village of Belmonte, Portugal. Its rites and prayers are an amalgam of Christianity and bits of Judaism tenaciously preserved through the ages, a tradition that bears the scars of history—distorted by clandestine practice and couched in symbols of fear. Now, brought into the open and reacquainting itself with mainstream Judaism, the community faces a new challenge.

1 hr. 5 min.  AGE: 12 to Adult

F

LE GOLEM: THE LEGEND OF PRAGUE  (1933)

Le        

French film set in medieval Prague, when the Jewish community is being threatened and victimized by a cruel Emperor and his followers. According to legend, in the year 1560, Rabbi Judah Loew (the Maharal of Prague) created a golem—a giant man made from clay. Using Kabbalah (Jewish mystical practices), Rabbi Loew brought the golem to life to save the Jews of Prague from destruction. This film takes place a generation later, when Rabbi Loew’s successor and his community are again faced with destruction. The golem must be revived to save the Jewish community’s leaders from execution. Note: This video was made from an older film which was not in prime condition. It is sometimes difficult to follow and will appeal most to devotees of historical Jewish film.

In French with subtitles. B&W. 1 hr. 36 min.  AGE: 13 to Adult

Beautifully filmed production about Chaja, a modern young Jewish women in 1970s Belgium who takes a job as a nanny for a Hasidic family, the Kalmans. Chaja is a rebellious philosophy student who has a strained relationship with her parents, both Holocaust survivors. Her mother tends to nag and push food while her father is constantly digging holes in the ground, searching for the luggage he buried with family photos and heirlooms during the Holocaust. When she begins working for the Kalmans, Chaja has a rather negative attitude towards Judaism which changes as she learns to respect aspects of their way of life. Chaja also forms an attachment to the Kalman’s youngest son – a boy who doesn’t speak. Through her experiences and involvement with the Kalman family, Chaja grows as an individual and is first able to have more of an understanding and appreciation of her parents. A sensitive and moving film with a wonderful performance by Isabella Rosellini as Mrs. Kalman. Also stars Maximilian Schell, Laura Fraser, Topol and Jeroen Krabbe (who also directs).

1 hr. 40 min.  AGE:  12 to Adult

F

LIBERTY HEIGHTS (1999)

Barry Levinson’s semi-autobiographical drama focusing on a Jewish middle class family in 1954 Baltimore – his fourth Baltimore film (joins Diner, Tin Men and Avalon). The film focuses on the two sons in the family as they explore the world around them. Academy Award winner Adrian Brody plays Van, the oldest of the boys, and a college student. Van attends a gentile party with his friends and falls for an attractive and aristocratic blonde. The younger brother, Ben, befriends a beautiful and intelligent African-American girl who enters his school during the time of early desegregation. Neither family approves of this alliance – especially hers (her father is a doctor). The film has many humorous moments (although viewers will either find it humorous or distasteful to see a Jewish boy who wants to be Hitler for Halloween). Many issues are tackled, including racism, anti-Semitism, Jewish identity and the mixing of people from different cultures and classes. Note: Some viewers may feel that the portrayals of the older Jews in the film are somewhat stereotyped. The father and his buddies run a burlesque show, which is a cover for a numbers racket. The mother continually warns her kids to be careful of “the other kind.” Levinson actually attempted to break Jewish stereotypes with this film. He portrays middle class Jews who are similar to the Jews he grew up with, and who are just beginning to explore beyond the Jewish world. Rated R.

2 hrs. 8 min.  AGE:  17 to Adult

921

THE LIFE OF EMILE ZOLA  (1937)

Zol

Actor Paul Muni stars in a film that chronicles the life of French novelist Emile Zola. Zola began as a young, poverty-stricken writer who achieved success as a champion for the oppressed in France. At a period in life of wealth and fame, Zola risked his career to come to the defense of Captain Alfred Dreyfus, the Jewish officer of the French artillery who was wrongly accused of treason. Zola wrote the famous “I Accuse” and stood virtually alone in his defense of Dreyfus, claiming that Dreyfus’ only offense was that he was a Jew. Winner of three 1937 Academy Awards including Best Picture.

B&W. 1 hr. 57 min.  AGE: 13 to Adult

301.451

THE LONGEST HATRED: THE HISTORY OF ANTI-SEMITISM  (1991)

Lon

This documentary traces anti-Semitism from its earliest manifestations in antiquity to recent outbreaks in Germany, Russia and elsewhere. Includes interviews with Jews, anti-Semites, and prominent scholars from around the world.

2 hrs. 30 min.  AGE: 12 to Adult

THE MAD ADVENTURES OF RABBI JACOB (LES ADVENTURES DE RABBI JACOB) (1973)

Hilarious comedy starring famous French comedian Louis de Funes as Victor Pivert, a bigoted and racist industrialist. While is on his way to his daughter’s wedding, Victor overhears a plot between feuding Arab revolutionaries. When they discover his presence, Victor’s only escape is to disguise himself as an Orthodox rabbi. Multiple chase scenes ensue, the most memorable (and funniest) taking place in a bubble gum factory (where, of course, many fall into the vats of goo). By the movie’s conclusion, Victor has finally been cured of his prejudices (and has experienced life as an orthodox Jew as well). Note: This is considered de Funes’s funniest role and was a classic in France.

In French with subtitles.  1 hr. 33 min.  AGE:  10 to Adult

F

MAKE A WISH, MOLLY  (1995)

Mak

Molly, a 10-year-old Russian Jewish girl, moves with her parents from New Jersey to California, where she is teased for her ethnic mannerisms. Molly is invited to her new friend’s birthday party—Molly’s first in America. However, the party falls during Passover, and Molly is faced with a dilemma. Her friend is having a very special cake, but Molly’s mother tells her she can’t eat it as foods with leavening are forbidden during Passover. Molly must decide whether it is more important to eat the cake and “fit in,” or to uphold tradition by abstaining from eating the cake and risk “standing out from the crowd.” An anti-Semitic episode adds to Molly’s problems, and Molly’s parents and teachers come up with a surprise solution which enlightens the whole class about ethnic diversity. Based on the book of the same title by Molly Cone and a sequel to the film Molly’s Pilgrim. Study guide available. Note: Not as well written or acted as the film Molly’s Pilgrim (and a little too “pat”), but still engaging for young people. A perfect springboard for discussions about ethnic diversity, accepting others, friendship, personal integrity vs. “fitting in,” Passover and the importance of keeping traditions, Soviet Jewry, and anti-Semitism.

30 min.  AGE: 5 to 14

329.943

THE NEO-NAZI MOVEMENT IN GERMANY: AN EYEWITNESS REPORT  (1993)

Neo

Video record of the meeting of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Security, International Organizations, and Human Rights in which the higher Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center gave the Center’s testimony on the current Neo-Nazi movement in Germany. This report was based on eyewitness statements and testimonies.

24 min.  AGE: Adult

940.54

NEVER FORGET  (1991)

Nev

Based on a true incident when Holocaust survivor Mel Mermelstein was challenged by a professional hate organization called “The Institute of Historical Review” to prove in a court of law that anyone was gassed at Auschwitz. Stars Leonard Nimoy. A related newspaper article is available on file.

1 hr. 35 min.  AGE: 13 to Adult

940.53

THE NEW YORK TIMES: LIVE FROM THE PAST—THE SEEDS OF THE HOLOCAUST, 1933-1935  (1995)

Nyt.

This film provides a brief but succinct overview of the beginnings of the Holocaust and its causes, using archival footage. Commentary is made both by Elie Wiesel and by A. M. Rosenthal, who has been associated with The New York Times for over 50 years. Issues dealt with include “How was Hitler able to take control of Germany?” “Who was responsible for Hitler?” and “Why were the Jews singled out for persecution?” An excellent introduction to the Holocaust and perfect for classroom use. Note: A study guide is available as well as a New York Times poster and 14 reproducible reprints of articles which appeared in The New York Times during 1933-1935.

17 min.  AGE: 12 to Adult

303.625

ONE DAY IN SEPTEMBER (2000)

Academy Award winning documentary which covers the brutal murder of eleven Israeli athletes in the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany. The film alternates between newsreel coverage from 1972 and interviews of both witnesses and participants including the only surviving terrorist. At the Olympics, eight Palestinian terrorists snuck into the Olympic village and took 11 innocent Israeli athletes hostage. They demanded that over 200 revolutionary prisoners be released from jails in Israel, Germany and other countries if the prisoners were to live. Piece by piece, the documentary covers the negotiations that followed leading to the tragic deaths of the Israelis at a German airport. It exposes the total incompetence of the German police in handling the entire affair. The surviving terrorist gave testimony that the German government worked in collusion with the terrorists – terrorists who 7 weeks later hijacked a Lufthansa jet and demanded release of the three remaining terrorists from the Olympics massacre (which the German government complied with). Note: The dead terrorists from the Munich attack all received heroes funerals. The only surviving terrorist today claims he is proud of his actions. Rated R for some graphic violent images.

1 hr. 34 min.  AGE:  17 to Adult

OUTCAST: JEWISH PERSECUTION IN NAZI GERMANY 1933- 1938 (1997)

Produced by Yad Vashem, this video looks at the persecution of the Jews in Germany prior to the outbreak of World War II (1933-1938). Actor Michael Shneider narrates the film, which alternates between documentary footage and survivor testimony. The film proceeds chronologically, one year at a time, pointing out major events in Hitler’s rise, and measures he took that affected the Jews. The survivors who were interviewed were all teens in Germany in the 1930’s. They talk about what they saw and how they and their families were affected. Included topics are Hitler’s rise to power, the Nuremberg Laws, Kristallknacht and the Evian Conference and world response. Note: There is no graphic footage, which makes this suitable for a younger audience than many Holocaust films. Some survivor testimony is difficult to understand, due to accents. The survivors interviewed all resided in Israel when the film was made. Recommended for teachers who wish to show a detailed account of events leading up to the Holocaust in Germany.

40 min.  AGE:  13 to Adult

947

PEOPLE’S GALA CONCERT  (1991)

Peo

Russian documentary dealing with anti-Semitism during Stalin’s final years. Through documentary footage and numerous interviews, filmmaker Semyon Aranovich shows the persecution and suffering Jews experienced under Stalin. Russian Jews describe the climate of terror and paranoia under which they lived, never knowing who Stalin and his government would strike next. Includes the murder of Jewish actor Solomon Mikhoels, as well as the case of the jailing of Russia’s leading physicians. Note: Some knowledge of Russian history under Stalin is crucial. The film may be difficult to follow for those unfamiliar with Russian leaders and events. (The Russian names themselves may prove difficult for English speakers to follow.)

In Russian with subtitles. 2 hrs. 23 min.  AGE: Adult

944

PRISONER OF HONOR  (1991)

Pri

Drama based on the true story of Alfred Dreyfus. A French colonel is brought up on charges after his discovery that Dreyfus was wrongly convicted of treason, largely due to French anti-Semitism. Starring Richard Dreyfuss.

1 hr. 30 min.  AGE: 14 to Adult

Outstanding presentation which examines the current crisis between Israel and the Palestinians. The film traces the roots of this conflict and looks in detail at attempts made for peace and how each side has handled the proposed arguments. Particular attention is paid to the Oslo Accords, with a point-by-point breakdown of major agreements. Film footage depicts how the Israelis have upheld their end of the agreements while the Palestinians have broken each of theirs. Description is also given of the Taba proposals with footage of reactions on both sides. Palestinian television clips are used as a primary source for the Palestinian viewpoint. In a well-edited hour, this invaluable film gets to the heart of the conflict and uses documentary footage to illustrate its points. Highly recommended for anyone concerned about Israel and the Israel/Palestinian situation. This film presents a well-organized, well-documented and factually sound analysis. Note: Includes footage of graphic violence. Available both in VHS and DVD formats.

1 hr. AGE:  17 to Adult

F

SCHOOL TIES  (1992)

Sch

Fictional story of teenage anti-Semitism in 1950’s Pennsylvania. Jewish teenager David Greene receives a football scholarship to an exclusive prep school and conceals from his classmates that he is a Jew. When his secret is revealed, David becomes the object of ridicule and scorn—and his desire for acceptance is replaced by a new sense of Jewish identity.

1 hr. 50 min.  AGE: 13 to Adult

940.53

SHTETL  (1996)

Sht

A Frontline presentation of director Marian Marzynski’s affecting look at how the Holocaust erased Jewish culture from the shtetls of Poland. A Polish Gentile researcher, a Chicago Jew and a Polish-born American Jewish translator join forces in Bransk, Poland, to uncover the story of what happened to this shtetl during the Holocaust. They discover much remaining Polish anti-Semitism and denial of what happened through many interviews with current Bransk inhabitants. They also talk to Bransk survivors in Israel and America, and at the end we follow another Bransk-born American Jew who returns to talk with people from his home village. Study guide available.

In English with some Polish subtitles and translations. 3 hrs.  AGE: 14 to Adult

F

SOLOMON & GAENOR (2000)

Drama set in 1911 Wales about the romance between Solomon, a young Jewish door-to-door linen salesman and Gaenor, the daughter of a church-going mining family in the town where he does business. Solomon is attracted to Gaenor and courts her concealing from her his Judaism and his family. The lovers meet secretly at first, and Gaenor can’t understand why Solomon does not marry her. After some anti-Semitic eruptions, Solomon’s family’s business is destroyed and they leave the area. The film has a tragic ending and is reminiscent of a modern Romeo and Juliet tale. Includes beautiful cinematography, fine acting and an interesting view of Jewish life in Wales. Note: Includes some nudity and violence.

In English, Welsh and Yiddish.  AGE:  17 to Adult

F

SUNSHINE (1999)

Epic drama which follows five generations of a Hungarian Jewish family from the mid 1800’s to the mid 1900’s. Ralph Fiennes plays three generations of men in the Sonnenschein (“sunshine” in German) family – a grandfather, a father and a son. The film opens in the 1800’s when Emmanuel Sonnenschein immigrates to Austria-Hungary, where he marries, has two sons, and becomes a successful businessman using a family recipe for a distilled beverage. Fiennes first role is as Ignatz, one of these sons, who becomes a successful lawyer. Ignatz eventually marries his adopted sister and assimilates by changing his name and working his way up through government. His brother, a doctor, becomes a Communist and flees.

Eventually, Ignatz has two sons, and one of them, Adam (also played by Fiennes) becomes a doctor. His attempt to assimilate is to convert to Roman Catholicism, as does the woman he marries – and they have a son. Adam is a skilled fencer as well, and he joins the Hungarian army to win a place on its fencing team. He competes and wins an Olympic Gold Medal – but eventually, anti-Semitism reaches Hungary when the Nazis invade. Adam and his family are rooted out as Jews, and Adam faces a horrific death.

After World War II, Adam’s son Ivan (again played by Fiennes) becomes an investigator in the Soviet backed Hungarian government and seeks out ex-Nazis. A disillusioned Ivan becomes active in the 1956 Communist rising and ends up in jail. In each generation, the lead male tries desperately both to assimilate and to change the injustice he sees around him – always with disappointing results. Sunshine follows a century of Jewish Hungarian life, mirroring the experiences of the Hungarian Jewish community through changing times and changing governments. The film presents superb performances by Ralph Fiennes, Rosemary Harris and Jennifer Ehle. Note: Contains sexual situations, some graphic violence and adult language. One torture scene is particularly upsetting to view. Rated R.

3 hrs.  AGE:  17 to Adult

JHVC

F

Tevye  (1939)

Tev

The character of Tevye the Dairyman originated a century ago in a series of stories by Shloime Rabinovitz (1859-1916), the immensely popular Yiddish writer who went by the pen name Sholom Aleichem. Some of the Tevye stories were adapted for the stage and silent screen by Aleichem before his death. Much later they were seen in musical form in Fiddler on the Roof, the tremendously successful American play and film. This Tevye, directed by and starring the great Yiddish actor Maurice Schwartz, is considered a classic of the Yiddish cinema. It focuses on the story of Chava, one of Tevye's daughters, who falls in love with a Ukrainian peasant who reads Gorky. The film explores issues of assimilation and intermarriage, tradition and modernity, as well as anti-Semitism and the future of Jewish existence. Made in New York on the eve of World War II, the film depicts a life that was already threatened.

In Yiddish with subtitles. B&W. 1 hr. 20 min.  AGE: 12 to Adult

Documentary containing many clips from Palestinian television depicting Arab leaders who openly talk about their ultimate goal of taking over the entire land of Israel. The film opens with the words of deceased Palestinian leader Faycal Husseneini talking about how Palestine will cover from “the river to the sea.” Ten minutes into the film, a new set of Palestinian textbooks for children are shown which delete any sign of Israel on the map – the land of Israel in each text is labeled “Palestine.” Many clips are shown of Arafat’s “double talk,” footage of suicide bombings and children being trained to hate. The Oslo Accords are referred to, with examples of how they have been broken by the Palestinians. Clips from Palestinian talk shows include speakers who deny evidence of any Jewish historical presence in the land and decry Israel’s right to exist. The film ends with footage of the Dolphinarium bombing in Tel Aviv, footage of the destruction of New York’s Twin Towers and celebration of this destruction by Palestinians. Note: Includes graphic footage.

In English and Arabic with English and French subtitles.  40 min.  AGE:  16 to Adult

F

THE WAVE  (1981)

Wav

A riveting dramatization of an incident that took place at a northern California high school in 1967. In response to a student questioning how the German people could claim ignorance of the Holocaust, the teacher initiates a classroom experiment. Through strict, regimented behavior, Mr. Ross creates ”The Wave”—a school movement based on ideas of power, discipline and superiority designed to make the students understand the mentality behind Hitler's Youth Movement. Note: The results are frightening and should be used to promote discussions about prejudice, conformity, misuse of power and the Holocaust.

46 min.  AGE: 12 to Adult

301.451

THE WRITING ON THE WALL  (1994)

Wri

Produced as a CBS Schoolbreak Special, this is the story of three teenage boys who write anti-Semitic graffiti on a rabbi’s house, a Holocaust survivor’s car, and the local synagogue. Rather than seeing them in jail, the rabbi suggests he teach the three boys for a total of 25 hours. In that time, he involves the boys in a learning process about the Holocaust, Judaism, and tolerance. The film stars Hal Holbrook and is based on an actual event. A 1995 Emmy Award winner. Note: Ideal for use in public schools or even Sunday School settings, relating to the topics of anti-Semitism, ethics, tolerance, or even as an introduction to Holocaust studies.

45 min.  AGE: 10 to Adult

F

THE YOUNG LIONS  (1958)

You

A World War II drama that deals with the Holocaust as well as American anti-Semitism. It concerns three main characters: Noah (Montgomery Clift), an American Jewish soldier who serves in World War II and helps liberate the camps; an American non-Jew (Dean Martin) who was a drinking, draft-dodging singer until he became a soldier; and an apolitical Austrian ski instructor named Christian (Marlon Brando) who becomes a Nazi. The film is criticized for its sympathetic presentation of the Nazi—who is portrayed as nobly performing his duties and being horrified and guilt-stricken when he sees a concentration camp for the first time.

2 hrs. 47 min.  AGE: 12 to Adult