This year's Jewish Film Festival lineup

Coming Nov. 12 – 15 is the 24th annual Central Florida Jewish Film Festival. This year's shows are back to the normal in-person viewings at the Enzian Theatre, except the opening night film, "Greener Pastures," and the closing night film, "Persian Lessons," which will be shown at the Orlando Science Center Digital Adventure Theater. Also back is the Mensch Pass (limited quantity) for $118, which includes all six programs and First Priority Seating with doors opening 30 minutes early; the Series Pass (limited quantity) for $72, that includes all six programs, discounted admission and Second Priority Seating. Individual tickets are $13. Passes and individual tickets can be purchased online or in person at Enzian's box office.

Once again, Heritage was invited to review the six films and one short. With hopes to inspire viewers to go to the film festival, here is my critic of these very unique films. Enjoy the reviews, then go and see the films for yourselves!

Opening the festival on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m. is "Greener Pastures," directed by Matan Guggenheim and Assaf Abiri, in Hebrew with English subtitles.

Receiving 12 Israeli Oscar nominations - including Best Film, Actor, and Director - "Greener Pastures" will be showing at the Orlando Science Center Digital Adventure Theater on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m.

A great way to start the festival, "Greener Pastures" is a comedy starring Shlomo Bar-Aba as Dov, a retired widower whose son has made him move to an assisted living village. It's a beautiful village with a lot of interesting residents. However, Dov is reluctant to settle in, living among his unpacked boxes in his little villa. All he wants is to go home to the house he shared with his now deceased wife. Discovering that medical marijuana is available for seniors, he comes up with a way to make lots of money selling it. With the help of fellow "investors" they make a killing in profits, until one police officer sniffs them out. Dov has been backed into a corner... or has he?

Showing on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. at the Enzian Theater is "How Saba Kept Singing," preceded by the short documentary "Kinderland."

"Kinderland," documentary directed by Amy Grappell, in English.

Summer camp can conjure up images of fun, loneliness, first loves, swimming and boating - an escape from routine living and a desire to build a better world. This is a true tale of rivalry between two summer camps in upstate New York back in the early 1900s. Camp Kinderland is proud to instill in the young campers that communism is the way. Camp Workmen's Circle teaches the equalities of socialism - it's down with capitalism all the way!

These camps have been thriving for almost a century. Why can't kids just be kids at camp?

"Kinderland" is the winner of Best Documentary Short at the 2021 Santa Fe International Film Festival.

"How Saba Kept Singing," directed by Sara Taksler, in English, Hebrew and Polish with English subtitles.

This is the true story of Holocaust survivor David - Saba - who lost his entire family in Auschwitz, but he survived because he entertained the Nazis with his beautiful singing voice. Parallel to his story is Zippi's own account of her trials at Auschwitz. A graphic artist, she was used by the Nazis to keep records on the prisoners, which often allowed her the opportunity to save lives. As their lives became intertwined, David and Zippi planned that if both lived through this war they would meet again in Warsaw.

Another theme woven into the story is defiance and the will to live. "Because we know that in the face of being denied the right to exist the greatest act of defiance is to live," said David to his son. "Am Israel chai! Hitler did not win." It is interesting how life's journey can take each person down unplanned roads. Did David and Zippi ever meet up?

Showing on Monday, Nov. 14 at 4:15 p.m. is "Nelson's Last Stand," directed by Avi Maor-Marzuk, in English and Hebrew with English subtitles.

I have heard of Yamit, Dikla, Holit and Talmei Yosef. These were settlements in the Sinai that were dismantled and the residents forced out of their homes by the IDF when the Sinai was given back to Egypt in the 1980s. I had never heard of Taba, where Rafi Nelson's Village Resort was nestled on the Red Sea and became a bone of contention between Israel and Egypt. The little resort that Nelson started building in 1970 with only a tent, a boat bar, and lots of booze, became a haven for politicians, celebrates and just folks who enjoyed a bohemian getaway. After the "Land for Peace" agreement between Sadat, Begin and Pres. Carter was signed, Taba and Nelson's village was the center of a squabble between Israel and Egypt that lasted nearly 10 years, and almost undid any peace between the two countries all because it was just 1 square kilometer of land.

"Nelson's Last Stand" was nominated for Best Israeli Film – DocAviv Film Festival.

"Rose," Sunday, Nov. 13, 2 p.m. at the Enzian. Directed by Aurélie Saada, In French and Yiddish with English subtitles.

My cousin, who is over 70, told me that once I turned 70, I could do whatever I wanted to do in life. I laughed at what he said, but felt a freedom in it. This film starring Françoise Fabian as Rose, a 78-year-old Parisian who has just lost her husband, captures the feelings of women who are past 70, but are still alive and even feel much younger than is expected of them. Unfortunately, her three grown children, can't handle this different mother. What about them and their own problems? This film is delightful and perhaps many can relate.

"One More Story," Monday, Nov. 14, 6:45 p.m. at the Enzian. Directed by Guri Alfi, in Hebrew with English subtitles.

Have you heard commercials, especially on the radio, with someone speaking at supersonic speed about the disclaimers? That drives me crazy and I have a hard time listening to the warp-speed babel. Well, I felt the same way through most of this film. Supersonic speed talking in English is bad enough. Try listening in Hebrew and fast reading the subtitles!

However, surprisingly, I liked this film! It has a unique story line - an ambitious young journalist, Yarden, is assigned to do a story about blind dating in hopes of chasing ratings for the magazine where she works. She tells her story to her own blind date (how ironic). She talks, talks, talks, and even admits she talks too much, about co-worker, Adam, who she uses as a guinea pig to get her story. He goes on several blind dates. Then he meets someone quite by accident - literally. I won't say anymore. You have to see the film to find out what happens.

"Persian Lessons," Tuesday, Nov. 15, 7 p.m. at the Orlando Science Center Digital Adventure Theater. Directed by Vadim Perelman, in German, French, English, and Italian with English subtitles.

J.R.R. Tolkien created various languages for the creatures of his make-believe Middle Earth. So, translating German words into Farsi should be easy - unless you don't speak or read Farsi. This is the fate of a Belgian Jew who in 1942 escapes being shot by Nazis because he claims he is a Persian. As luck would have it, an SS Officer wants to learn Farsi, so he enlists Reza (his new Persian name) to teach him the language. What is Reza to do? He creates a language and has a clever way to remember his "new" Farsi language. The film is based on true events.

There you have it! Another year of great and unique films to broaden you minds or just entertain you. See them all or pick out those that entice you.