Editorial

Five Jewish-themed films produced in Poland, France, Israel, and the U.S. will be shown on five consecutive Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. beginning April 30 at the Jewish Cultural Center, located at 5461 North Terrace Road.

These films are suitable for those 16 and older. Individual tickets are $7 per person and includes complimentary popcorn and a soft drink. For additional information, contact Ann Treadwell (423) 493-0270.

Aftermatch

Wednesday, April 30

100 minutes, Polish with English subtitles

Franek and Jozek Kalina are sons of a poor farmer from a small village in central Poland. Franek immigrated to the United States in the ’80s and cut all ties with his family. Only when Jozek’s wife arrives in the US without explanation does Franek finally return to his homeland. Franek discovers that Jozek has been ostracized from the community, and constantly receives various threats. As Franek and Jozek struggle to rebuild their relationship, they are drawn into a gothic tale of intrigue. The two brothers eventually uncover a dark secret that forces them to confront the history of their family and their hometown. Abe Foxman (National Director, Anti-Defamation League), writing for the Huffington Post, called the film, “Riveting. A must-see film. In a sophisticated way, it does a better job of communicating the power and destructiveness of anti-Semitism than almost any other film.”

Quality Balls: The David Steinberg Story

Wednesday, May 7

80 minutes, English

Americans have long depended on Canada for three things: oil, maple syrup, and comedians, and David Steinberg counts among Canada’s biggest comedic exports. Born in Winnipeg, he attended Yeshiva in Chicago, abandoning his studies to join the legendary Second City. The film features archival footage of his performances, including “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson (where he was second only to Bob Hope in number of appearances) and the standup shows that put him in the ranks of George Carlin and Richard Pryor. At times too controversial for US networks, his religious sermonettes generated more hate mail for CBS than any network had ever received, resulting in the cancellation of “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.” Directing credits include “Seinfeld,” “Mad About You,” “Golden Girls,” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

Bethlehem

Wednesday, May 14

99 minutes, Hebrew and Arabic with English subtitles

This film tells the story of the complex relationship between an Israeli Secret Service officer and his teenage Palestinian informant. Shuttling back and forth between conflicting points of view, the film is a raw portrayal of characters torn apart by competing loyalties and impossible moral dilemmas, giving a glimpse into the dark world of human intelligence. Winner of Israeli Film Academy Best Film, Best Director, and Best Screenplay; Israel’s nominee for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards; and winner of the Venice Film Festival 2013 Fedeora Award for Best Film.

Kidon

Wednesday, May 21

97 minutes, Hebrew and French with English subtitles

“Kidon” imagines the cloak-and-dagger puzzle behind the real-life assassination of a Hamas leader. The tongue-in-cheek action begins when Mahmoud al-Mabhouh is found dead in a Dubai hotel room. The local police immediately blame the Mossad and release security tapes showing what appear to be red-handed Israeli agents carrying out the killing. The shocking story makes international headlines, but no one is more shocked than the Mossad, who have never heard of these agents or their mission. An investigation to discover who carried out the operation is scrambled. The ensemble includes Israeli stars Sasson Gabai, Raymonde Amsellem, and Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Bar Refaeli.

Pour Une Femme (For a Woman)

Wednesday, May 28

100 minutes, French with English subtitles

The unexpected arrival of a brother who supposedly perished during World War II upsets the lives of a Jewish tailor and his pretty bride in this latest film from French veteran director Diane Kurys. Inspired by the director’s own family history, this historical drama goes back and forth between the immediate postwar period and 1980s France, when a young director (Sylvie Testud, from Sagan) tries to write a screenplay inspired by the story of her parents. French stars Nicolas Duvauchelle and Benoit Magimel play Ukrainian-born but France-raised siblings, with Melanie Thierry playing the latter’s young wife, who finds herself inconveniently attracted to her brother-in-law.

The Jewish Film Series is made available through the support of The Chattanooga Allergy Clinic; Raymond James Classic Wealth Advisors Sandy Chamber, W. Barton Close, and Tena Kellis; Henderson, Hutcherson McCollough; Southport Capital; WTCI, Tennessee’s PBS Station; and donations by more than 80 individual sponsors.