What, no Sarah Silverman movies?
OK, so this year's Winnipeg International Jewish Film Festival is a little light on potty-mouthed lady-comics but it does boast another stellar lineup of acclaimed and award-winning works from all over the world.
Running from Wednesday until next Sunday at the Berney Theatre, the festival seeks to reflect "the diversity of the Jewish experience and the richness of Jewish culture with its wide-reaching selection of poignant and exceptional movies," says Tamar Barr, Rady JCC program director.
"There is no better way to reach people than through film," Barr continues. "And the 2007 festival doesn't disappoint, covering family drama, comedy, coming-of-age themes, romance and compelling documentaries."
Here's a thumbnail of this year's lineup:
WEDNESDAY at 7:30 P.M.
Love & Dance -- A family of Russian immigrants bridges the cultural divide through bouts of teenage angst and ballroom dancing.
THURSDAY at 7:30 P.M.:
Rashevski's Tango -- Members of a French family confront issues of religion, romance and interfaith marriage following the death of their grandmother.
SATURDAY at 9 P.M.
Three Mothers -- The true story of Egyptian-Jewish triplets who -- over the span of six decades -- reveal the truth about their distressing family history in hopes of finding redemption.
Sunday at 2 p.m.
The Ritchie Boys -- Another true story, this one reuniting a group of war heroes who fled Nazi Germany as young men and returned to Europe as soldiers in U.S. uniforms.
SUNDAY at 7:30 P.M.
Gloomy Sunday -- A Hungarian-set romance follows a love quadrangle that unfolds before, during and after the Second World War.
Monday at 7:30 p.m.
A Green Chariot -- After cutting himself off from his family and friends so he can achieve his lifelong dream of becoming an Israeli, a 22-year-old is forced to re-explore his Russian identity just days before his wedding.
To be followed by: Like A Fish Out of Water -- Argentine immigrant Marcello, a soap opera actor and single father, struggles with his lack of a conventional family in this highly unconventional rom-com.
TUESDAY at 7:30 P.M.
Sophie Scholl: The Final Days -- Germany's most famous anti-Nazi heroine is brought to thrilling life by actress Julia Jentsch in this multi-award-winning drama.
WEDNESDAY at 7:30 P.M.
Ushpizin -- Soul-stirring but still humorous, this drama follows the daily life of an ultra-Orthodox couple who find themselves penniless on the eve of the holiday Sukkot.
THURSDAY at 7:30 P.M.
Strange Fruit -- The titular Billie Holliday classic gave birth to the U.S civil rights movement, but how many people know it was written by Jewish scholar/activist Alan Meeropol?
SATURDAY at 9 P.M.
What A Wonderful Place -- Uniformly magnificent performances buoy this multi-layered narrative about foreign workers in a dreary border town in post-Intifada Israel.
SUNDAY at 2 P.M.
All I've Got -- After dying, a 72-year-old grandmother must choose between being reunited with her first love -- who died when she was 22 -- and relinquishing all memory of her subsequent life or staying the same age forever, with memories intact.
Tickets to the Jewish Film Festival are available by calling 477-7510 or checking www.radyjcc.com for more info.
Winnipeg International Jewish Film Festival
Where: Berney Theatre
When: March 21 - April 1
