362.6

POP  (1998)

Pop

Photographer Joel Meyerowitz created this heartwarming portrait of his “Pop”—his 87-year-old father, Hy Meyerowitz, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Meyerowitz takes his dad and his own grown son on a two-week road trip from Florida to New York City, where Hy was born. Photos and film clips of Hy’s past are intermingled with his reminiscences of special times in his life. Despite his Alzheimer’s, viewers see a vibrant and street-wise man who has lost his memory but has kept his vitality and zest for life. This bittersweet picture of a true survivor—a man who overcame obstacles with his optimism, drive and force of personality—was created by a son who loved him and wanted to show others who his father really was. Note: Some language is unsuitable for young viewers.

1 hr.  AGE: Adult

Controversial, high-charged drama which takes a harsh look at women’s roles in Hasidic Jewish society. Renee Zellweger plays Sonia, a high spirited young Hasidic woman in Brooklyn who is deeply frustrated by her role as wife and mother and longs for something more from life. When her husband’s brother, Sender, offers her a job in his jewelry business, Sonia jumps at the change to escape the monotony of her life. As her parents were gemologists, Sonia has an extensive knowledge of the diamond industry and does well in business. Sonia’s husband (a flat character) is a Torah scholar who exalts his studies, Torah and devotion to the Rebbe above anything else (including Sonia). His brother, Sender, on the other hand, is unscrupulous, cynical and dishonest. He takes advantage of Sonia’s need and emotional instability and actually rapes her (and maintains a sexual relationship). Later in the film, Sonia discovers a Puerto Rican jewelry maker who makes exquisite and artistic pieces. Her relationship with him causes her to eventually be excommunicated from her society – and from her child. Note: Zellweger gives a passionate and intense performance as Sonia. The filmmaker, Boaz Yakin, gives a biased and two-dimensional portrait of Hasidic society. The men are self-centered and the women are oppressed and not viewed as individuals by the men. Viewers should know that this is far from an objective portrayal of Hasidic Jews – and evaluate it accordingly. A highly discussable film. Rated R. Contains partial nudity and mature subject matter.

2 hrs. 56 min.  AGE:  17 to Adult

JHVC

F

The Purple Heart  (1944)

Pur

This World War II film is one of the first to depict an American character only incidentally Jewish. Lieutenant Greenbaum, identified as a graduate of City College, is distinguished by his articulateness, but is otherwise a typical young man. Made in 1944, The Purple Heart reflects American attitudes toward the war, as well as the nation’s own self-image and values. It not only documents Jewish integration into society but also declares social inclusiveness to be an American virtue. After their plane is crippled in a raid, eight Americans of diverse backgrounds are captured by the Japanese and subjected to a brutal trial in violation of international law, as well as to physical and mental torture. Unless they reveal critical information, they will be found guilty and executed. The men are sustained by their sense of justice, loyalty and patriotism.

B&W. 1 hr. 38 min.  AGE: 12 to Adult

F

RADIO DAYS  (1987)

Rad

Woody Allen drama which follows two separate alternating story lines. The first takes a nostalgic look at an obviously Jewish family in Long Island’s Rockaway district during World War II. It is related by the son of that family. The second deals with the Manhattan night life of the rich, in which an aspiring cigarette girl yearns for fame. The two stories are connected by the golden age of radio—when families gathered to listen, and radio stars reigned supreme. Stars Woody Allen, Mia Farrow, Julie Kavner and Diane Wiest. Note: Not overtly Jewish in content, but very recognizable as depicting an American Jewish family in 1940’s New York.

1 hr. 25 min.  AGE: 13 to Adult

JHVC

917.3

Return Trips  (1991)

Ret

In embracing the freedom and opportunity of their new homeland, many Jewish immigrants abandoned, distorted, or watered down their spiritual heritage. To many of their children and grandchildren, Judaism held no particular interest. Against all odds, however, a remarkable resurgence of Jewish identity began in the late 1960’s. Using archival material, music, and memories, Return Trips chronicles both the Americanization of early Jewish immigrants and the "return" of a generation formed by the counterculture movement. It charts the scope of revitalization through visits to Jewish communities in a number of American cities and interviews with leaders of the chavura, Jewish renewal, and Orthodox return movements. The filmmakers share their personal stories—from their families' eager assimilation to their own halting steps back: curiosity leading to discovery and study, then to tentative practice and, finally, commitment.

1 hr.  AGE: 12 to Adult

973

THE ROAD TO NEW YORK FROM EASTERN EUROPE: JEWISH IMMIGRATION AT THE TURN

Roa

OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY  (1998)

Suitable for classroom use, this video traces the path of Jews who left Europe from 1880 to 1914 for a new life in the United States. It looks at what life was like in the European shtetls and explains the reasons Jews left for America. Using photos and narration, the film then illustrates what life was like when these Jews arrived at Ellis Island and settled on New York’s Lower East Side. Note: Although narration is somewhat stilted at times, this video provides very clear, organized and detailed information to introduce students to the subject of Jewish immigration to the U.S.

B&W. 17 min.  AGE: 10 to Adult

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

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

JHVC

808.97

Sid Caesar In Your Show of Shows  (1994)

Sid

Your Show of Shows made television history. In television's infancy, the comedy show was broadcast live every Saturday night. Its hilarious and original sketches—starring Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Nanette Fabray, Carl Reiner, and others—had much of America laughing. The show was written by a stellar group of writers, including Neil Simon, Mel Brooks, Woody Allen, and Larry Gelbart. Although the humor is rarely explicitly "Jewish," viewers might recognize the underlying Jewish sensibility. The sketches featured in this tape are typical scenes and subjects, like "The Professor," comical family conflicts and everyday dilemmas, and parodies of high culture, Hollywood, and foreign films.

B&W. 1 hr.  AGE: 10 to Adult

F

SNOW IN AUGUST (2001)

Based on Pete Hamill’s acclaimed novel about an 11-year-old Irish Catholic boy, Michael Devlin, and his relationship with a rabbi who recently emigrated from Prague in 1947. When the story opens, Michael witnesses the murder of an elderly Jew by Frankie, a local ruffian. Frankie later threatens Michael not to be an informer to the authorities. Later on, Michael meets Rabbi Hirsh (they meet when the rabbi asks Michael to turn on his stove during the Sabbath). A friendship forms due to mutual need – Michael’s father died fighting in World War II, and the rabbi lost his wife in the Holocaust. Michael agrees to teach the rabbi English and baseball, while the rabbi teaches Michael Yiddish and the Kabballah. Eventually, Frankie and his gang begin to terrorize the rabbi, and Michael knows that some action must be taken. Note: The ending will have a varied response from viewers and requires the suspension of disbelief. Includes a few violent scenes. Rated PG.

1 hr. 45 min.  AGE:  13 to Adult

F

A STRANGER AMONG US  (1992)

Str

Brash, young and attractive detective Emily Eden is sent to the Hasidic Diamond District of Brooklyn to investigate a puzzling murder which the police suspect was committed by an “insider.” She goes under cover as a Baal Teshuvah—someone who has returned to Orthodox Judaism. To prepare for this assignment, Emily—a very tough and hardened policewoman—moves in with the Rebbe and his family to learn their way of life. What she doesn’t expect is the tremendous attraction she feels towards their way of life and towards the Rebbe’s son. A wonderful performance by Melanie Griffith as Emily. Note: Includes some strong language which gave it a PG-13 rating. Also, some viewers may have difficulty with the brief romantic scene between a non-Jewish woman and the son of the Rebbe.

1 hr. 49 min. PG-13.  AGE: 13 to Adult

JHVC

F

Street Scene  (1931)

Str

Based on Elmer Rice's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Street Scene is a bold exploration of Jewish immigrant life in America early in this century. It examines the themes of assimilation, socialism, anti-Semitism, and identity. Abraham Kaplan lives with his family in a row house populated by a kaleidoscope of characters looking to break out of poverty. Kaplan’s revolutionary socialist views grate against some of his neighbors, who are mystified by the "gibberish" he reads in his Yiddish newspaper and occasionally advise him to “go back where you came from." Even his son, educated in America, wants little to do with his father's politics or heritage. The tension on the street, in the building, and within Kaplan's family build throughout the movie, playing themselves out in the best tradition of Rice's work. Note: Due to the age of the film, it is often hard to understand the dialogue. Although the film depicts immigrant life, including Jewish immigrants, its primary focus is not Jewish.

B&W. 1 hr. 18 min.  AGE: 14 to Adult

F

THE SUNSHINE BOYS (1975)

Walter Matthau and George Burns star in this Neil Simon comedy about two veteran stand-up comedians. Willy Clark (Matthau) and Al Lewis (Burns) were part of a vaudeville team called “The Sunshine Boys” that played together for 43 years. In public, they had audiences roaring – in private, they bickered and fought incessantly. Then, Willy’s nephew (Richard Benjamin) tries to bring them out of retirement to do a TV special together. Both men could use the money but can these two impossibly cantankerous elderly men tolerate each other’s presence long enough to complete the show? Rated PG. Note: Matthau received an Academy Award nomination and Burns received an Oscar for his role

1 hr. 51 min.  AGE:  12 to Adult

JHVC

SWEET LORRAINE (1987)

F

Swe

New York State’s Catskill Mountains used to be known as the Jewish Alps. Dotting the mountains were family hotels like the Lorraine – resorts offering Jewish food, Jewish humor and a smart, lovable Jewish mother running the place.

Sweet Lorraine captures the end of an era. Now run-down, the Lorraine faces its last summer. Molly Garber, the owner’s granddaughter, surprises her grandmother by showing up to work and she falls in love again with the hotel of her childhood. From the escapades of the staff to the jokes of the hotel comedian to romance for granddaughter and grandmother, this funny and touching film explores whether we can hold on to the past – and go home again. Rated PG-13.

1 hr. 31 min.  AGE:  13 to Adult

973

THEY CAME FOR GOOD: A HISTORY OF THE JEWS IN THE UNITED STATES (2001)

This two-part series looks at 250 years of Jewish immigration to America, from 1654-1880. Utilizing documents, letters and diaries, the videos show where the Jewish immigrants settled and how they adapted to and helped to shape America. A major theme throughout deals with the struggles Jews had in keeping their Jewish identity while assimilating into American society.

2 cassettes  1 hr. ea.  AGE:  12 to Adult

PRESENT AT THE CREATION 1654-1820

Looks at the first Jewish immigrants to America, 23 Sephardic Jews from Recife, Brazil who came to the settlement of New Amsterdam in 1654. The film examines how these Jews tried desperately to fit into colonial American society but were generally treated like second class citizens. At the time of the American Revolution, most Jews were extremely patriotic and actively supported their new country. Major Jewish figures explored include Asher Levy, Rebecca Gratz and Uriah Levy. Includes photos, dramatizations, maps and interviews.

TAKING ROOT 1820-1880

This segment examines the next two waves of Jewish immigration. The second wave of Jewish immigrants came from Germany and the third wave from Central and Eastern Europe. Approximately 250,000 Jews arrived in the U.S. during this time period and the film shows how most made their livings in small retail businesses, peddling and manufacturing. The film also covers divisions between Jews during the Civil War and examines the development and growth of the Reform and Conservative movements in America.

781.7

A TICKLE IN THE HEART  (1996)

Tic

Max, Julie and Willie Epstein are three elderly brothers who play Klezmer music together. Produced by a German, Swiss and American filmmaking team, this video tells the story of these Klezmer music legends, musicians of the past who are now on an international comeback tour. It alternates between clips of their performances in various locales and interviews with the brothers, who tell their stories and talk about their music. The men are lively, funny and a bridge between the past and the present.

B&W. 1 hr. 24 min.  AGE: 12 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

Classic Yiddish drama starring Maurice Schwartz as a tyrannical sweatshop owner in the 1930’s who falls in love with Masha, the 17-year-old daughter of a worker he has fired. Although Uncle Moses is much older, he pursues Masha. Masha must choose between marrying a man she doesn’t love and pleasing her parents, who wish to raise the family’s position in America. The film deals with some major issues for Jewish immigrants of the time period, including the clash between traditional Jewish values and the temptation of secular life in American. Labor issues for immigrants also are a main theme here, as viewers see the struggles of the underprivileged sweatshop workers, the exploitation of the tenement lords and the idealism of the often-Marxist labor union organizers. The film rises above being a two-dimensional drama by creating multi-faceted characters. Uncle Moses is a prime example of this. Although he exploits his workers, he also paid for them to leave Eastern Europe, come to America and he gave them jobs. He takes advantage of them but he also considers them his family. Yiddish film star Maurice Schwartz shines in this film, which was an adaptation of a 1918 Sholom Asch novel and played for years on the Yiddish theatre.

In Yiddish with subtitles.  1 hr. 27 min.  AGE:  14 to Adult

F

UNSTRUNG HEROES (1995)

Unusual and touching drama about a young boy, Steven Lidz, with a most unusual family. Steven’s father (John Turturro) is a scientist and an inventor who has two extremely eccentric (and possibly crazy) uncles played by Michael Richards and Maury Chaykin. When Steven learns that his mother (Andie MacDowell) is dying from cancer, he chooses to live with these two unconventional uncles. Although the uncles may seem crazy to many, they are warm, loving and creative (one uncle is paranoid and thinks Nazis are spying on him all the time). The uncles’ apartment is stacked to the ceiling with old newspapers and their closet is filled with balls. Immediately, Steven’s uncles set about trying to improve his self image. They begin to call him “Franz” instead of Steven to give him a name of more distinction (like the composer, Franz Liszt). They teach him to be a proud individual, not to be afraid to speak his mind. The uncles also teach Steven a respect for his Jewish background – something of which his atheistic father disapproves. When disaster strikes – in more than one way – this very odd family illustrates what really being a family is all about. Directed by Diane Keaton, Rated PG.

1 hr. 33 min.  AGE:  12 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

F

WATCH THE STARS COME OUT  (Reading Rainbow)  (1985)

Wat

“Reading Rainbow” is a PBS children’s video series which introduces quality picture books. This episode opens with a visit to Ellis Island and a brief look at American immigration. Then the children’s book Watch the Stars Come Out by Riki Levinson is read with close-ups of the book’s illustrations. The story deals with how a little girl and her brother journeyed alone on a big boat to join their parents and older sister in America. LeVar Burton takes viewers on a visit to the Statue of Liberty for a closer look, and modern day child immigrants are interviewed. A visit is also made to a city festival where people celebrate their different cultures.

30 min.  AGE: 5 to 8

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

976.4

WEST OF HESTER STREET  (1983)

Mon

Award-winning film which chronicles Jewish emigration from Eastern Europe to the American Midwest in the early 1900’s—called the “Galveston Movement” after the port in Galveston, Texas. Jewish leaders in America had devised the Galveston Movement to relieve problems caused by the rapid growth of the Jewish immigrant population on the East Coast. The film interweaves events of this westward Jewish movement with the story of a young Jewish peddler who is forced to adjust to a new way of life far from a thriving Yiddish culture. Using actors, period costumes, an original score and archival footage, this docudrama recounts a little-known chapter in American Jewish history. Study guide available.

Color/B&W. 58 min.  AGE: 12 to Adult

917.3

WITH LIBERTY FOR ALL  (1989)

Wit

The story of Jewish immigration to the U.S., the sweatshops, the night school classes, the pushcart and more—all told with warmth and beauty. Produced by Hadassah.

Color/B&W. 18 min.  AGE: 10 to Adult

791.43

THE YIDDISH CINEMA  (1991)

Yid

Produced by the National Center for Jewish Film, this documentary traces the history of Yiddish film. It begins by providing a brief history of the Yiddish language, as well as Yiddish literature and theater. The documentary uses film clips, photographs and interviews to present the ascent and then the decline, after World War II, of Yiddish film in both Eastern Europe and the United States. Includes clips of some of the most popular Yiddish films. Narrated by playwright David Mamet. Note: This video serves well as an introduction to a Yiddish Film Series, as does the video Yiddish: The Mame-Loshn.

Film clips in Yiddish with subtitles. Color/B&W. 1 hr.  AGE: 14 to Adult

492.49

YIDDISH: THE MAME-LOSHN (Yiddish: The Mother Tongue)  (1979)

Yid

Well-produced, made-for-television documentary by filmmaker Pierre Sauvage (Weapons of the Spirit) about the Yiddish language and its importance to American Jews today. Includes interviews with comedian David Steinberg, actor Herschel Bernardi, writer Leo Rosten (The Joys of Yiddish), Daily Forward editor Simon Weber, and Yiddish scholars. Film clips highlight performances by Molly Picon, Maurice Schwartz and Isaac Bashevis Singer. A fascinating and well-researched look at a language that has survived for generations.

58 min.  AGE: 12 to Adult