The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival is Back!
By Ron Merk, Editor in Chief
Indieplex Online Magazine
What can I say about this festival that I’ve not said in the past? Probably not much since I’ve given it raves year after year for being one of the most innovative and fun film festivals. Innovative in form, content, and politically controversial films. Fun because they have the greatest comic trailers of any film festival, trailers that make the audience laugh and get ready for an afternoon or an evening of great films and other programs. And yes, comedies, too. What is more serious than comedy?! And did I mention great guests. In past years, Hollywood super star Kirk Douglas, and TV Producer Norman Lear, and so many more great personalities of film, culture and politics.
I think the thing that surprised me most when I started going to the festival many years ago, is that while the films often focus on Jewish themes or have Jewish characters, there is an amazing revelation of the human condition in these films, even for non-Jews. The universality of the theme of cultural differences, political conflict as well as the Holocaust tragedy all translate very easily into things that everyone can understand. This is not an accident, but a clear choice of films by the programmers that resonate the theme that we are all alike in the basic things we care about, are afraid of, and hope for. Maybe we are not all brothers and sisters, but we are certainly all cousins in this world we live in. This is made very clear by the films chosen to run in this amazing festival.
The festival opens tomorrow night, July 19, 2018 at San Francisco’s legendary movie palace, The Castro Theatre. The opening night film is “Love, Gilda.” The film is followed by a wonderful Opening Night Party at The San Francisco Contemporary Jewish museum where noshing and schmoozing are de rigeur for all the guests. Yes, it’s also a festival where you can learn lots of new vocabulary words. So, grab your tickets now and schlep the whole family to the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. The festival plays at multiple venues around the San Francisco Bay Area. If I had a Jewish grandmother, she probably would say: “You shouldn’t miss it” (with an appropriate Yiddish accent, of course) “ENJOY!”
(See dictionary at end of article for definitions of these special terms that are italicized)
Check the Schedule: https://jfi.org/sfjff-2018
BAY AREA PREMIERE
“LOVE, GILDA”
One Time Only Screening!
It has been more than 40 years since this brilliant, fearless and uproarious performer burst onto the scene, but Gilda Radner’s enduring impact on our culture can still be felt in myriad ways. Her wacky and quirky recurring characters such as the crabby Roseanne Roseannadanna, the hard-of-hearing Emily Litella and the nerdy Lisa Loopner still delight. Radner was the first person cast by Lorne Michaels for Saturday Night Live and her celebrity was instant. When she died after an epic battle with ovarian cancer, a piece of us left with her.
Lisa D’Apolito’s endearing, exuberant and intimate tribute uses rare personal recordings and clear-eyed journal entries to bring Radner back into our lives as we learn of her early struggles, meteoric rise and very human journey to find the love of her life (Gene Wilder). Home movies throughout her life and interviews with current and former SNL cast members such as Amy Poehler, Cecily Strong, Laraine Newman and Martin Short help us remember Gilda as they share their fondest memories of this iconic comedy legend. Clips from some of her famous routines reveal how Radner poured her heart and soul into every character she created and take us back to a time when this woman enchanted us with her passion, childlike wonder and inventiveness. Ultimately the heartfelt and poignant Love, Gilda accomplishes what every great film aspires to: making you want to see more. ~Jay Rosenblatt
“By no means a vanity project – Radner’s diaries are as clear-eyed as anything when it comes to her struggles involving fame, relationships, and her health – Love, Gilda offers the kind of keen personal insight that few documentaries can pull off.” ~Kate Erbland, IndieWire
Guests expected:
Director Lisa D’Apolito and original SNL cast member Laraine Newman in person
Dictionary for terms used:
Noshing – eating (usually snacks)
Schmoozing – chatting, exchanging ideas (and business cards), gossiping, and jovial talk.
De rigeur – Essential.
Schlep – travel, get there (and hurry up because festival tickets are selling fast!)
