So says Watermark magazine about this weekend’s upcoming 10th annual Central Florida Jewish Film Festival on Sunday and Monday, 11/16 & 17. Of particular interest to Central Florida’s leading gay publication is the French/Israeli closing film, Avi Nesher’s THE SECRETS, in which the strong-willed daughter of a rabbi postpones her arranged marriage so that she may study at a Jewish seminary for women. Once there, she befriends a free-spirited and rebellious French girl, and their attraction becomes both spiritual and sensual. The great Fanny Ardant co-stars in this daring drama that was nominated for 8 Israeli Academy Awards.
Other highlights in this year’s exciting program include Paul Weiland’s SIXTY SIX–starring Helena Bonham Carter, Eddie Marsan, and Stephen Rea–a touching and funny autobiographical coming-of-age tale about a British boy in 1966 whose parents accidentally schedule his Bar Mitzvah opposite the World Cup final.
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Oren Jacoby’s CONSTANTINE’S SWORD makes its Orlando debut, an astonishing documentary that explores the dark side of Christianity through the ages and is as provocative and enthralling as they come. In fact, a post-film discussion is planned outside in the courtyard at the Eden Bar, so you’ll want to leave some extra time to spend with us on Sunday afternoon.
The other docs program is a double feature of two Southeast premieres, new films from Israeli that deal with humor and heroism. CIRCUMCISE ME: IT’S NOT IN HEAVEN is the hilarious and moving story of Yisrael Campbell, an orthodox Jewish stand-up comedian who has converted from his Catholic roots in Philadelphia to Judaism not once, but three times. That will be preceded by WAVES OF FREEDOM, which recounts one of the strangest and least known post- WW II adventure stories when American volunteers got involved in trying to break the British blockade of Palestine in 1947.
I’m not sure if there’ll be knishes and Hebrew National dogs, but you can bet there will be some terrific films on display courtesy of Enzian and the JCC of Greater Orlando. For more info check out http://www.enzian.org/index.html#2 Come help us celebrate our 10th anniversary.
–Matthew
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