The mystery is revealed. The brochure for Milwaukee’s 15th annual Jewish Film Festival promised that that last film would be a sneak peak of a new film.
Micki Seinfeld, director of special events at the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center, revealed the title in an interview on Sept. 20. As with the other four in the series, this film fits the festival’s goal — which is, Seinfeld said, “to bring from around the world films that wouldn’t otherwise come to Milwaukee about the Jewish experience.”
The complete schedule of the festival, Oct. 14-18 at the Marcus North Shore Cinemas, 11700 N. Port Washington Rd., is:
• Sunday, Oct. 14, 7:30 p.m.: “Nicky’s Family” (2011)
This documentary tells the story of Nicholas Winton, an Englishman who organized the rescue of 669 Jewish children from continental Europe just before World War II. Winton, now 102, did not speak about these events with anyone, and his effort would have probably been forgotten if his wife, 50 years later, hadn’t found a suitcase in the attic full of documents and transport plans.
The showing of this film is made possible in cooperation with the Nathan & Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center.
A free pre-screening lecture is slated for 6 p.m. Professor Simone Schweiber of the University of Wisconsin-Madison will speak and will present Madison Kindertransport veteran Renata Laxova. This event is sponsored by UW-Madison and UW-Madison’s Mosse/Weinstein Center for Jewish Studies.
• Monday, Oct. 15, 7:30 p.m.: “Kaddish for a Friend” (2012)
This German feature film tells of an unlikely friendship between Alexander, an 84-year-old Jewish war veteran desperate to remain living independently in his Berlin flat, and Palestinian teenager Ali, whose family arrives from a refugee camp in Lebanon.
• Tuesday, Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m.: “The Flat” (“Hadira”) (2011)
Filmmaker Amon Goldfinger’s grandparents lived in a Bauhaus building in Tel Aviv since they immigrated to Palestine in the 1930s. When his grandmother died, the family was called upon to clear out what was left in the flat. This documentary develops from there into an adventure involving unexpected national interests, a friendship that crosses enemy lines, deeply repressed family emotions, and revealed secrets.
This film is shown in cooperation with the Israel Center of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation.
• Wednesday, Oct. 17, 7:30 p.m.: “Prima Primavera” (2008)
This feature film tells of Gabor, a mentally challenged 55-year-old man who loses everything when he tries to foil a bank heist. On the lam from the police for being an uncooperative witness, he joins with the bohemian girlfriend of one of the thieves to escape. The odd pair sets out to seek refuge in her house in Serbia.
• Thursday, Oct. 18, 7:30 p.m.: “Hava Nagila (The Movie)” (2012)
The mystery film is a documentary about that quintessential Jewish celebration-dance song “Hava Nagila” (“Let Us Rejoice”). Producer/director Roberta Grossman explores the origins of the song, interviews many of the artists who have performed it, elicits reactions to the song from many people, and shows how the song encapsulates the last 150 years of Jewish history.
Movies each evening are $10 general admission, $9 for students and seniors. A five-movie-pass — one ticket to each evening movie — is general admission $45 and $40 for seniors and students. A Patron Pass for $100, of which $50 is tax deductible, includes one reserved seat for each movie.
Tickets can be purchased only through the JCC or at the JCC table at the theater entrance one hour before each movie.
For more information and tickets, contact Seinfeld, mseinfeld@jccmilwaukee.org or 414-967-8235.
