|
A
few months ago I was sent a documentary about Yehuda Grovais,
a Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) filmmaker in Israel who makes Haredi
action films (think Vin Diesel with a kippa). Who'd have thought?
I was so intrigued by this genre that I tracked Yehuda down
(no easy task) and asked him to send me some of his films.
I watched a few and I picked what I thought is the best of
the lot to present at this year's festival (along with the
documentary). You'll be amazed and entertained.
Did
you know that filmmaker's screening fees for this year's festival
will be over HK$75,000? That's 25 percent of the whole festival's
budget. If you believe in the festival, please visit our website's
Donations page to find out how you can support this great
event. Receipts for tax purposes are available.
| Brothers Forever (Achim Lanetzach) |
 |
|
Jacob, a religious Jew living in Bnei Brak,
struggles to keep his printing business
afloat. When his lawyer suggests that he go
to Venice to reclaim his family's home that was
confiscated by the Fascist authorities after
they were deported from Italy during World
War II, Jacob is not sure the timing is right
but in the face of near-certain bankruptcy he
feels he has no other choice. However,
reclaiming the home isn't going to be easy as
the Church has since taken it over and the
anti-Semitic
priest who lives there swears that the
building has been in his family for
generations. BROTHERS FOREVER is a schmaltzy
but entertaining look into the genre of Haredi
(ultra-Orthodox Jewish) film.
This film will be presented in English.
|
|
Thanks 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!
The
8th Annual Hong Kong Jewish Film Festival will
run from November 17 - 25. Tickets go on sale
at the Palace IFC cinema box office and their
usual outlets starting November 7th.
|
|
|
Film Fanatic |
|
|
|
NO WOMEN are allowed to appear in the movies
of Yehuda Grovais.
NO MOVIES at all are permitted in his
ultra-Orthodox community.
He has:
NO TOLERANCE from fanatical rabbis.
NO RECOGNITION from other filmmakers.
NO CHANCE to show his movies in cinemas or on
TV.
NO BUDGETS for his productions.
So far, he has made 50 feature films.
The story of Yehuda Grovais, a young Israeli
ultra-Orthodox Jew, who rebels against his
community and battles against the secular
cultural establishment to realise his
impossible love -- cinema. His outward
journey leads him into a tense confrontation
with his own religious fanaticism.
Watch a trailer (Hebrew only)...
|
|
