| | Published March 12th, 2014
| A Wide Array of Wonderful Films East Bay International Jewish Film Festival comes to Orinda March 21-23
| | By Sophie Braccini |  | | "The Wonders" Photo provided |
The 19th annual East Bay International Jewish Film Festival is coming to Orinda's Theatre Square March 21-23 with 10 feature films and documentaries that present a rich tapestry of the best of Israeli films today - some funny, some serious, others poignant or violent. Festival director Riva Gambert is certainly right to say, "There is a film for everyone's taste and sensibility."
The first set of films that will be shown March 21 are on the lighter side, with "Bert Stern: Original Madman," an American documentary that takes a look at this legendary photographer who turned on America to vodka via his inventive ads for Smirnoff, and helped modernize celebrity photography; "David Steinberg Has Quality Balls," an engaging documentary about this wonderful Canadian comedian; and "The Wonders," a film set in Jerusalem with a dangerous and glamorous leading lady and a goofy leading guy, inspired by a true story. Avi Nesher's film noir, which has touches of romance and comedy, is a well executed mix of genres.
On March 22, the film offerings take a more serious turn: In "Bethlehem," one of Israel's highest 2013 award winners that received top honors at the prestigious Venice Film Festival and won "Best Film" at the Ophir Awards (Israel's Oscar), an Israeli secret service officer and his 16-year-old Palestinian informant Sanfur form the central duo of the film. Set in the time of the Second Intifada around 2001, the movie's screenplay was co-authored by Israeli and Palestinian writers. Directed by Yuval Adler, the plot is worthy of Greek tragedy, with a young man forced to choose between loyalty and family. Caution is advised; this is a war movie with violence and brutality. It captures the complex reality of Palestinian-Israeli relations.
Also showing that day is "S#x Acts," an award-winning coming-of-age drama about a 16-year-old girl in an upscale Israeli city.
The final day of the festival, March 23, includes a heavy-hitting lineup of films that tackle tough issues such as autism, aging with conviction, betrayal, murder and revenge. "The A Word" tells the journey of a family as they discover their son has autism; "Life in Stills" is about a 96-year-old grandmother who tries to fight eviction from her Tel Aviv photography shop, which houses thousands of photos portraying the history of the country.
"Fill the Void," which won seven Ophir Awards, is directed by Rama Burshtein - the first Orthodox Jewish woman to direct a film meant for viewing outside of her own community. In the film, 18 year-old Shira Medelman, the youngest daughter of an Orthodox Hassidic family in Tel Aviv, postpones her forthcoming marriage after her 28-year-old sister dies in childbirth. When the widower thinks about leaving the country with his newborn son, Shira's mother pressures her to wed her brother-in-law. Shira must decide whether to follow her mother's wish or fulfill her own dreams. Hadas Yaron received the Venice Film Festival "Best Actress" award for her portrayal of Shira.
"Out in the Dark" is a compelling thriller that portrays the intense romance between Nimr, a Palestinian graduate student, and Roy, an Israeli lawyer; and "Big Bad Wolves" is a mesmerizing, psychological drama that received 11 Ophir nominations.
Starring one of Israel's favorite actors, Lior Ashkenazi, "Big Bad Wolves" follows the off-line interrogation of a serial killer. Dror, a young religion teacher, is beaten by the police to get a confession to the serial murders of young women. He is finally released and the policeman who persecuted him, Miki, is fired. But Miki still believes Dror is the assassin and stays on his trail, only to discover that the father of the last victim, Gidi, is also after Dror. The Israeli thriller, directed by Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado, contains graphic violence and is not for tenderhearted viewers.
The East Bay International Jewish Film Festival, which began March 7, continues today at Century 16 Theaters in Pleasant Hill before moving to the Orinda Theatre beginning March 21. For ticket information, or to view trailers, visit http://eastbayjewishfilm.org.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA