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The
Hong Kong Jewish Film Festival is over for another year. If
you weren't there, you missed some great films!
We
thought you might like to know which films were our Audience
Award winners this year. As was the case last year, you loved
what you saw with every feature scoring at least 7.69 (out of
10). For the third year in a row, our top feature film came
from Israel but this year there was stiff competition from Brazil.
Both films scored just under 9.00 each. The documentaries, as
well, received accolades with the top two films scoring above
9.00.
| Favourite
Feature Film: Sweet Mud (Adama Meshuga'at) |
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Set in mid-1970s, 12-year-old Dvir is entering his bar
mitzvah year - a time for many initiations and trials.
Dvir's father is dead, his brother is away in the army,
and his mother, Miri, suffers from emotional instability.
While the kibbutz handles the practical needs of every
family, the intangible moral support one expects from
a close-knit community is scarce, and Dvir is left to
care for beautiful, fragile mother. When her kindly boyfriend,
Stephan, arrives from Switzerland, it seems that Miri,
blissfully in love, may actually recover. But the kibbutzniks,
already resentful of a "non-contributing" guest, cast
Stephan out after he tussles with another resident to
defend Dvir. The loss shatters Miri and Dvir must pick
up the pieces.
Audience Score: 8.94/10
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| Favourite
Documentary: I Have Never Forgotten You: The Life and
Legacy of Simon Wiesenthal |
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A comprehensive look at the life and legacy of Simon Wiesenthal,
the famed Nazi hunter and humanitarian. Narrated by Academy
AwardŽ winning actress Nicole Kidman, it features interviews
with long-time Wiesenthal associates, government leaders
from around the world, friends and family members - many
of whom have never discussed the legendary Nazi hunter
and humanitarian on camera. Previously unseen archival
film and photos also highlight the film. What was the
driving force behind his work? What kept him going when
for years the odds were against his efforts? What is his
legacy today, more than 60 years after the end of World
War Two?
Audience Score: 9.39/10
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The
9th Annual Hong Kong Jewish Film Festival will take
place next November. We hope to see you there!
Coming
soon: A special HKJFF screening of one of this year's
Cannes award-winning films from Israel, THE BAND'S
VISIT (Bikur Ha-Tizmoret).
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Thanks again for reading Reel News and giving us the feedback
to make it better. Don't forget, if you like what you
read, please let us know and forward Reel News to your
friends so they will know too!
It's
not too late to donate to the festival. Please send us
an email if you would like to contribute to this great
event. Thanks for your support.
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