940.54

RESCUERS: STORIES OF COURAGE - TWO WOMEN  (1997)

Res

The first of a three-part dramatic series in which each part features two separate true life stories of ordinary people who saved the lives of Jews in World War II. This film trilogy was co-produced by Barbra Streisand and is based on the book Rescuers: Portraits of Moral Courage in the Holocaust by Gay Block and Malka Drucker. Note: A study guide is available. Teachers may wish to show students the real-life photographs and stories of these Righteous Gentiles from the book.

Mamusha stars Elizabeth Perkins as Gertruda, a Polish Catholic housekeeper who works for a Jewish family in Warsaw and takes care of Mickey, their 3-year-old son. When the Nazis invade Poland, Gertruda follows Mickey and his mother to Vilna. When Mickey’s mother dies of a stroke, Gertruda promises to protect Mickey and raise him as a Jew. She hides and protects Mickey during the war and takes him to Palestine, living there herself until her death.  (50 min.)

Woman on a Bicycle is the story of a Christian woman, Marie-Rose Gineste, who works for a Bishop at a Diocesan organization in France. When the Nazis take over, she finds herself helping him in the Resistance movement, forging identity documents for Jews and distributing an underground paper. She later helps to hide 19 Jews from the Gestapo, and continues helping the Resistance even after the Bishop is imprisoned by German police. Marie-Rose Gineste is played by actress Sela Ward.  (55 min.)

1 hr. 45 min. total  AGE: 12 to Adult

221.9

RUTH  (Testament: The Bible in Animation)  (1996)

Rut

Using amazing model animation, this retelling of the Biblical story of Ruth is beautiful to view. It relates how Ruth, after her husband’s death, remains with her mother-in-law, Naomi, and promises to stay with her and become one of Naomi’s people. Ruth proves to be a faithful and loving daughter-in-law, and eventually marries Boaz, Naomi’s kinsman. Produced for BBC Television. Study guide available (written by the BJE of Greater New York). Note: This video is part of a series which was not produced specifically for a Jewish audience. The “Ruth” segment, however, is suitable for Jewish classroom use—and may be used in conjunction with the holiday of Shavuot.

26 min.  AGE: 8 to 12

296.445

"SAYING KADDISH"  (1991)

Say

This drama deals with a Jewish family affirming life in the face of death. Focuses on the relationship of two grown sisters after the death of their mother, as well as the importance of community in a time of personal crisis. Sibling rivalry is an additional theme. One sister remained single and helped care for her ill mother; and she resents the other sister (played by Tova Feldshuh) who moved out of town, married (and is now separated with a child) and has a important career. The out-of-town sister, on the other hand, feels that the mother rejected her and favored her sister—and she is initially unable to mourn. Produced by the Jewish Theological Seminary. Note: Jewish mourning customs are also illustrated in this fine film which won an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Subject.

58 min.  AGE: 10 to Adult

JHVC

F

Siege  (1970)

Sie

Israel's victory in the Six Day War brought a feeling of euphoria and superiority to its people. The resounding triumph also created a feeling that future political problems might be solved through military dominance. Siege takes place during this era of national confidence. Tamar is an Israeli woman whose husband has been killed in the Six Day War. Her husband's army buddies want her to keep his memory alive, and mourn him as a respectable war widow should. But Tamar wants to move on with her life, raise her young son, and enjoy the fruits of the Israeli victory. When she meets a new man, one of her husband's friends secretly arranges to meet him, as if to decide whether he approves. The psychological games take their toll on Tamar, until she finds a way to break from her past.

In Hebrew with subtitles. 1 hr. 35 min.  AGE: 14 to Adult

F

SOFIE  (1992)

Sof

Liv Ullmann directed this drama about a Jewish woman in Denmark in the late 19th century. At the beginning of the film, we meet Sofie, a woman of marriageable age who lives with her parents. Their quiet lives revolve around their small Jewish community and gatherings with relatives, who visit often. At a party, Sofie meets a famous gentile painter who wishes to paint her parents’ portrait. For Sofie and the artist, the attraction is instantaneous. Frightened by this attraction and wishing to please her parents, Sofie agrees to the marriage her parents have arranged for her with a doltish cousin—a drapery shop owner who is devoted to his stern and unpleasant mother. The film follows Sofie as she lives the life her parents have chosen for her and grows in awareness of the implications of that choice. Beautifully filmed and acted, this slow-moving period piece feels like an Ingmar Bergman movie. Note: Includes a very brief nude scene.

In Swedish with subtitles. 2 hrs. 25 min.  AGE: Adult

F

SONG OF THE SIREN (1995)

Israeli drama set during the Gulf War about Talilia, a 32-year-old single woman who is so concerned about her romantic life that she ignores the approaching Gulf War. Talilia is a very modern and “hip” type of Israeli woman who is an advertising executive. She has recently broken up with her steady of two years – a man who just became engaged to a younger woman. On the rebound, Talilia becomes romantically involved with Noah, an appealing food engineer she meets through work. When his ex-girlfriend shows up, and her ex-boyfriend reappears on the scene, Talilia’s personal life over complicates. Meanwhile, the scud missiles from Iraq begin to fall around her and Talilia has made no preparations. Talilia finds she must make some of the most important decisions about her future in a climate of danger and uncertainty. A candid view of modern Israeli society with a central female character who is spontaneous, irreverent and funny. Note: Contains sexual situations and explicit language.

In Hebrew with subtitles. 1 hr. 31 min.  AGE:  17 to Adult

F

THE SUMMER OF AVIYA  (1989)

Sum

The story of one summer in the life of a ten-year-old girl, Aviya, during the first year of Israel’s independence. Aviya has lived in orphanages most of her life. Her mother, a Holocaust survivor who was a partisan fighter during the war, walks a thin line between sanity and madness. Aviya returns home to her mother for the summer in this emotionally powerful film. The viewer sees Aviya grow toward maturity as she struggles with some very difficult situations. The film also illustrates how the Holocaust scarred not only its survivors, but also their children. Note: This is a true story based on the life of Gila Almagor—a prominent Israeli actress who portrays her own mother in this film.

In Hebrew with subtitles. 1 hr. 36 min.  AGE: 13 to Adult

910.039

TREES CRY FOR RAIN: A SEPHARDIC JOURNEY  (1989)

Tre

Traces the Spanish roots of the substantial Jewish community in Turkey through exploring the life of Rachel Amado Bortnick, who grew up in Turkey and is one of the last generation of native speakers of Ladino. Includes songs, stories, photographs and traditional foods from Jewish Turkish life. Study guide available.

30 min.  AGE: 14 to Adult

F

TWO SISTERS  (1938)

Two

Made in the United States, this Yiddish melodrama is about Betty Glickstein, a Jewish girl who promises her mother—who is on her deathbed—that she will take care of her younger sister, Sally. Betty gives up the best years of her life to ensure her sister’s well-being. She takes care of the household and works in a factory so that Sally can attend school and later train to be a nurse. Betty also uses the money she earns to put her sweetheart, Max, through medical school. Max and Betty get engaged, and he becomes a doctor. When Sally falls in love with Max, Betty’s ability to sacrifice her own interests is put to its final test. Will she relinquish the man she loves to her younger sister? An outstanding performance by actress Jennie Goldstein—her only performance recorded on screen.

In Yiddish with subtitles. B&W. 1 hr. 22 min.  AGE: 14 to Adult

F

UNDER THE DOMIM TREE  (1994)

Und

Powerful coming-of-age story of Aviya, a teenage girl in 1950’s Israel. Aviya lives in a youth village created for troubled youth and orphans who survived the Holocaust. Aviya’s mother, a Holocaust survivor who was a partisan fighter during the war, has suffered so much emotional anguish that she is unstable and usually in a mental institution. Three main themes permeate this film: teens interacting and coming of age; the terrible aftereffects of the Holocaust on youth; and life in the early years of the State of Israel. Based on the book Under the Domim Tree and a sequel to the book and film The Summer of Aviya, the video depicts autobiographical events in the life of Israeli actress Gila Almagor. A poignant, moving and unforgettable film. Note: As this film portrays people who were emotionally scarred by the Holocaust, some scenes may be upsetting to youth. Teachers must preview and should provide some background to the class before viewing—and be prepared to handle discussions after viewing.

In Hebrew with subtitles. 1 hr. 42 min. AGE: 13 to Adult

F

VOYAGES (1999)

French film with three separate stories about older Jewish women whose lives were all affected by the Holocaust. The film presents each story individually, but the characters’ lives eventually intertwine in unexpected ways. The first story involves Rivka, who is on a bus tour of Poland with her husband. Accidentally, Rivka is left behind at one of the stops. The pair has a bitter argument, as Rivka’s husband didn’t notice she was missing and has neglected her for years of their marriage. The second story looks at Regine, a woman in Paris whose father was recorded as having died in the camps. Regine travels to Lithuania to meet a very old man who claims to be her father. While listening to his story, she realizes he is not her father – but travels with him to Israel to try to find his real daughter. The third story follows Vera, who travels from Moscow to Tel Aviv to search for a cousin. When Vera gets lost, she is befriended by Rivka, from the first episode. In all three stories, the characters seek connections with family members and sometimes end up making new connections through the kindness of complete strangers.

In French with subtitles.  1 hr. 55 min.  AGE:  14 to Adult

Set in 1969, this is the story of a Jewish family who spend a rather eventful summer in the Catskills. It focuses on the two main female characters: Pearl (Diane Lane), an attractive young mother, and her adolescent daughter. In the course of the film, Pearl – bored and frustrated with the tedium of her life - enters into a passionate affair with the “blouse man” (Viggo Mortensen) who sells clothes from a wagon to the women at the resort. Meanwhile, her daughter (Anna Paquin) experiences first love against the backdrop of Woodstock. Tovah Feldshuh delivers an outstanding performance as Pearl’s all-seeing, comprehensive mother-in-law, and Liev Schreiber shines as Pearl’s husband. Co-produced by Dustin Hoffman and Tony Goldwyn, this film effectively captures a time and place long gone as well as internal struggles common to many families. Rated R. Note: Includes partial nudity and sexual situations.

1 hr. 47 min.  AGE:  17 to Adult

JHVC

Katie Morosky and Hubbell Gardner couldn’t be more different. She’s a political activist, a working-class Jew who attends college while holding several jobs; he’s a wealthy gentile, born to privilege, who wins several varsity letters for college sports. A pair of near-opposites, they powerfully attract each other when they meet again eight years after graduation.

Katie and Hubbell marry, but theirs is no easy relationship. The differences that drew them together also strain their marriage, overriding their affection. Katie cannot stop trying to perfect the world and Hubbell cannot bear her attempts to fix everything around her, including him.

Set against the background of World War II and the McCarthy era, The Way We Were is an unforgettable portrait of a deep love that can’t last. Rated PG.

1 hr. 58 min.  AGE:  12 to Adult

291.1

WOMAN  (In Two Octaves: A Debate of Eight Parts Between Judaism & Christianity) (1995)

In

Part 6 of an eight-part debate which took place in Jerusalem in 1992 between Professor Yeshaiyahu Leibowitz and Father Professor Marcel Dubois. In this segment, both men discuss the role of women in their religion—although the conversation is dominated by Leibowitz. Dubois mainly refers to women prominent in Christian history, such as Mary Magdalene or Joan of Arc—whereas Leibowitz talks about the history and current status of women in the “real world”—the reality of a woman’s place in our intellectual, political and sociological world. Dubois feels that womanhood is a destiny, not an assumed role. Leibowitz refers to the more recent changes of the woman’s place in society as “the greatest revolution in the history of the human  race.”

52 min.  AGE: Adult

921

A WOMAN CALLED GOLDA  (1982)

Mei

Emmy Award-winning dramatization of the life of the late Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. Includes her childhood, her family life, her early Zionist years; her rise to Israeli Prime Minister, and her 1977 meeting with Sadat. Golda is portrayed as a symbol of dignity, humor and hope for mankind. Stars Ingrid Bergman, Leonard Nimoy and Judy Davis.

4 hrs.  AGE: 12 to Adult

F

WOMEN  (1996)

Wom

Set in the Sephardic Jewish community in Jerusalem at the end of the 19th century, this Israeli drama looks at the relationships which evolve when two women share a husband and a household. The story concerns Rebecca, a pious woman who desperately loves her husband, Jacob, a well-respected rabbi. After 15 years of marriage, the couple remains childless. Out of love, Rebecca decides that her husband must have a child and convinces him—despite his protests—to take a second wife. She chooses the young and beautiful Sultana—the daughter of a scholar who had died. Sultana has loved and admired Rebecca since she was a child, and agrees to the marriage out of her respect for Rebecca. The situation that develops is something that none of them had planned on. A fascinating film which gives viewers a realistic view of the complexity of polygamous marital situations, commonly found in the Bible. Directed by Moshe Mizrachi and starring Michal Bat Adam.

In Hebrew with subtitles. 1 hr. 38 min.  AGE: 14 to Adult

This video, aimed at students, provides a basic introduction to the life and times of Anne Frank. It alternates between documentary footage of the progression of the Holocaust and dramatic scenes depicting Anne Frank (with readings from her diary). Interspersed also are brief interviews with Otto Frank and Miep Gies, among others who helped hide the Frank family. The film includes narration of the words of the diary while showing historical footage of what was actually taking place. Note: conducive for classroom use, particularly when The Diary of Anne Frank is being studied.

Color/B&W.  28 min.  AGE:  10 to Adult

F

YANA’S FRIENDS (1999)

Israeli romantic comedy about new Russian immigrants starting out in Israel against the background of Saddam Hussein’s scud missiles. Yana is a young, beautiful, pregnant woman whose husband deserts her not long after they arrive in Israel. Upon arrival, he takes a loan and then heads back to Russia, leaving her to fend for herself in the apartment they shared with Eli, a young filmmaker. Eli has a habit of using his camera to film people’s private lives. He becomes intrigued with Yana and films her. The story involves an unusual assortment of characters, most of them Russian immigrants. An enjoyable and often comic film, whose richness lies in the authentic feeling the characters give as believable and real human beings. Note: Two brief scenes including nudity. Primarily in Hebrew (and Russian) with subtitles

90 min.  AGE:  17 to Adult

F

YENTL  (1983)

Yen

Dramatization of a short novel by Isaac Bashevis Singer. Yentl, a smart and independent young Jewish woman in 1904 Eastern Europe, wants to study Talmud and Jewish law. Since this study was restricted to boys, Yentl masquerades as a boy and enters the Yeshiva. There she falls in love and gets involved in the middle of an impossible love triangle. This musical stars Barbra Streisand (who sings all songs), Mandy Patinkin and Amy Irving.

2 hrs. 14 min.  AGE: 12 to Adult

F

YIDL MITN FIDL (Yidl With A Fiddle)

Yid

The classic Yiddish language musical comedy. Molly Picon plays a shtetl girl who, disguised as a boy, goes off with her father and a band of traveling musicians into the Polish countryside. Made in pre-war Poland, the film provides a warm rendering of Eastern European Jewish life.

Yiddish with subtitles. B&W. 1 hr. 32 min.  AGE: All Ages