Blog From March 15, 2015

 

                                        MY FIVE FAVORITE JEWISH MOVIES 

 

Those of you who have seen "Forever Intertwined" know that it was inspired by my reflections on how Jews are portrayed in film.  Below, I have listed my favorite Jewish movies with explanations as to why I loved them so much.  If you feel I have left out your favorites, go to the contact button and E-mail me what I should have listed!

 

1) The Chosen. This film, an adaptation of the classic novel by Chaim Potok, is, in my opinion, the finest Jewish film I have ever seen. From the historical detail, to the beauty of the friendship between the two main characters, to the emotional finale between father and son, everything about this movie is perfect. 

 

2) Au Revoir, Les Enfants. While there are many great movies about the Holocaust, this, to me, is the finest. The story of priests trying to hide a Jewish student from the Nazis is compelling, emotionally challenging, and is also based on a true story. 

 

3) Gentlemen's Agreement.  Although somewhat dated, this tale of a non-Jew who poses as a Jew to uncover anti-semitism is still powerful.  I also love how it exposes not only anti-semitism, but Jewish self-hatred, as well. 

 

4) Crimes and Misdemeanors.  Woody Allen's morally ambiguous tale of the injustice in the world is a real challenge to believing Jews.  While the metaphor of the optometrist who gets away with murder while treating a rabbi who is going blind may be somewhat heavy handed, the questions Allen raises are profound and worth allowing ourselves to be challenged. 

 

5) Cast A Giant Shadow. The story of Col. David "Mickey" Marcus and the dawn of the State of Israel is told beautifully, from the acting to the writing to the cinematography.  A "must-see" for any fan of cinema in general, and of particular interest to Jewish film fans.