Jewish film blog

Jewtopia – the movie

You heard it here first – or at least second. The hit stage show Jewtopia, that went from LA to New York, is to become a movie.

The show's writers Sam Wolfson and Bryan Fogel revealed to our sister site SomethingJewish that they have been working on the script for the film. "It's pretty different to the play, it's got a lot of the same stuff but it's just more locations and spread out more," said Wolfson.

Fogel expanded further: "There are so many things alluded to in the play that you can't see, in the film you can create all these characters and these settings. It's changed quite radically. There's a million things you can't accomplish on stage that you can do in a movie."

Jewtopia follows the dating and relationship exploits of two thirtysomething men, one Jewish, the other convinced that he wants to be Jewish. A new production opened in Chicago last week and the pair have recently been in talks with Jewish director Sam Mendes to bring it to London.

When Do We Eat? When do we see it?

The hottest new Jewish film since The Hebrew Hammer looks set to be When Do We Eat? This Passover-themed comedy out-Jews Meet The Fockers with its cast, which includes Jack ‘Quincy’ Klugman, Israeli actress Mili Avital, former Oscar nominee Michael Lerner and up-and-coming starlet Shiri Appleby.

The film, directed by Salvador Litvak follows a dysfunctional family, the Stuckmans, whose annual Seder spins out of control after family patriarch Lerner unknowingly takes some drugs – though we’re a bit confused which type of drugs as even on the official website it makes mention to both ecstasy and LSD. Maybe Sal could shed some light on the matter!

According to the synopsis on the official website:

by the end of the night Dad's visions turn him into a modern day Moses intent on leading this hungry group to the promised land of family forgiveness.

We are also promised horseradish used as a weapon, a married woman kissing a one-eyed Israeli, and matzo courtesy of a black lesbian.

Although it’s yet to get a cinema release, it was recently the opening film at the annual Palm Beach International Film Festival and it has been getting rave reviews, with the Palm Beach Daily News dubbing it ‘My Big Fat Passover Seder’.

Despite the premiere and positive reviews, it doesn’t yet have a release date in the US, let alone other countries.

We hope it does well, as it’s always great to come across Jewish filmmakers with original ideas.

The Hebrew Hammer

review by: Caroline Westbrook
first published on SomethingJewish.co.uk

There haven't been many Jewish action heroes in film history - well, come to think of it there haven't been any - but with The Hebrew Hammer, first time filmmaker Jonathan Kesselman seeks to redress the balance. And boy, does he succeed.

Not only is this one of the best Jewish comedies of the past ten years, blending smart satire with a barrage of just-plain-stupid sight gags to winning effect, but it wins even more points for its feelgood outlook - in a world where Jewish characters on film are all too often unsympathetic stereotypes or oppressed victims, it makes a real change to see positive Jewish protagonists that aren't afraid to celebrate their heritage or mercilessly poke fun at themselves.

Adam Goldberg (who you might remember from Saving Private Ryan, A Beautiful Mind and Friends), is the title character, aka private investigator Mordechai Jefferson Carver - who has remained true to his heritage despite being the only Jewish kid in his school (as shown in a hilarious pre-credits sequence).

Something of a hero in his Brooklyn neighbourhood, his crimefighting skills are put to the test when he is called upon by secret society The Jewish Justice League (JJL) to save Chanukah from Damian, the evil son of Santa Claus, who is hellbent on destroying the festival. To help him in his quest, Hammer teams up with Mohammed, leader of the Kwanzaa Liberation Front (whose own festival is equally threatened by Damian's scheme) - but can out hero beat the bad guys, save the festival and still find time to settle down with nice Jewish girl Esther (Judy Greer)?

With much of what passes for Jewish comedy these days still stuck in traditional stereotypical humour, it's refreshing to see something that blows the cobwebs off such conventions and takes a genuinely new approach to its subject matter. Goldberg is hugely appealing - super-cool, true to his religion yet still unable to cope with his overbearing mother (Nora Dunn) - and there's nice supporting turns from Greer and Peter Coyote as the bagel-munching head of the JJL.

Yet perhaps Hebrew Hammer's greatest strength is its ability to laugh at itself, and to make humour out of subjects that other Jewish comedies might frown upon. The jokes about Jewish mothers, accountants and food are played out in a self-mocking manner, making them far funnier than they would normally have been - and there's a lot of edgy satire here, in among the sight gags and latke jokes. Of course, not everybody may be amused by the appearance of the Jewish Worldwide Media Conspiracy, or Goldberg seeing off a bar full of Neo Nazis with a handful of firearms and an unprintable Sabbath greeting - but there's still no denying this is bold, original stuff that should not only appeal to Jewish audiences seeking something different but should capture the imagination of non-Jewish viewers as well.

If it takes off, The Hebrew Hammer should put Jewish comedy well and truly back on the map. And it's not before time.

Review first published on SomethingJewish.co.uk

The Hebrew Hammer is now out on DVD

Jewboy gets Cannes premiere

A short Jewish film from Australia is to get its world premiere at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival next month.

The aptly named Jewboy is described as:

Yuri Kovner, son of a Rabbi, is 23 when his father’s death triggers his return to the Chasidic community of Jewish Sydney. Through his grief, Yuri struggles with his faith, his family and community, as he comes to understand who he is and where he is from. Jewboy is a film filled with longing, humour and hope about a young man finding his place in the world.

Check it out.

Jewish film festivals around the world

Want to find out when a Jewish Film Festival is taking place? Here's a guide to Jewish Film Festivals across the world including Europe, USA, Canada and Asia.

Click on the name of the festival to get more information.

If you know of any other Jewish film festivals, email: festivals@jewishfilm.co.uk

EUROPE

UK Jewish Film Festival

Warsaw Jewish Film Festival

USA

Baltimore Jewish Film Festival

Boston Jewish Film Festival

Harrisburg Jewish Fim Festival

Israel Film Festival

Jewish Film Festival of Westchester

Maine Jewish Film Festival

Miami Jewish Film Festival

New Jersey Jewish Film Festival

Palm Peach Jewish Film Festival

Washington Jewish Film Festival

Far East

Hong Kong Jewish Film Festival

Israel

Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival

Brazil

Sao Paulo Jewish Film Festival

Canada

Toronto Jewish Film Festival

Vancover Jewish Film Festival