Look for reviews of the some of the films playing at this year’sThe St. Louis Jewish Film Festival soon here at We Are Movie Geeks
The St. Louis Jewish Film Festival, held annually at the Landmark Plaza Frontenac Cinema (1701 S Lindbergh Blvd #210, St Louis, MO 63131), is one of the local Jewish community’s most popular and highly attended events of the year. Each year, the festival presents international Jewish films, both documentaries and features that explore universal issues through traditional Jewish values, opposing viewpoints and new perspectives. And each year, the fest packs ‘em in so get there early – it’s first come first serve for seats and those Frontenac theaters aren’t very big. Attendance is always through the roof for this thing, a testament to the group’s marketing and choice of programming. Guest lecturers are brought to the fest to discuss and illuminate the subjects of these films.
The 22nd Annual St. Louis Jewish Film Festival opens with two exciting films on Sunday, June 4th at the Landmark Plaza Frontenac Cinema. The first, On the Map (4pm) After beating a dynamic Soviet basketball team, Israeli team captain, Tal Brody, exclaimed in American-accented Hebrew, “We are on the Map, we are staying on the Map, not only in sports, but in everything.” That phrase and the Maccabi Tel Aviv team, a combination of NBA also-rans and Israeli players, rallied a nation in its David-and-Goliath pursuit of the 1977 European Championship. It is the pulse-pounding action of a high-stakes game combined with an incendiary political situation.
The 7pm screening of Fanny’s Journey A Suspenseful, compelling, moving film set in 1943. Here is the true story of exceptional bravery and survival against overwhelming odds. As war is raging in Europe, 13-year-old Fanny and her two younger sisters are sent by their parents to a foster home for Jewish children in the French countryside. As the Germans advance, Fanny unexpectedly finds herself in charge of a group of 11 young children. Now she must do the impossible and lead her little group to the Swiss border in order to save all their lives.
The St. Louis Jewish Film Festival continues through Thursday, June 8 with its celebration of Jewish life through 18 documentary and feature films. While all films depict a slice of the Jewish experience, the films are universal and meant to be appealing to all, regardless of faith.
Historical figures ( Ben Gurion, Epilogue), ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, a child heroine ( Fanny’s Journey), musicians ( Bang- The Bert Berns Story , Joe’s, Violin, an Oscar nominated film and Maestro , Films are brought to life in comedy( The Pickle Recipe), dramas
(Past Life and The Women’s Balcony), mysteries ( A Grain of Truth) and documentaries ( Monkey Business about the creators of Curious George). Features originate from Belgium, France, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Germany, Poland, and the United States.
All films will screen at the Landmark Plaza Frontenac Cinema (Lindbergh & Clayton Road). Ticket prices vary. An Opening Day feature ticket costs $15 each or purchase the double feature for $25.
Tickets for weekday films are $12 in advance and $13 at the door. Or, purchase a four-pack of weekday films for $44. Student tickets (age 16 and under) are $8 for weekday films and $10 for opening day. Tickets go on sale May 1st. Purchase tickets by phone 314 442-3179 or online at brownpapertickets.com View the complete Film Festival schedule at stljewishfilmfestival.org
This year’s Jewish Film Festival co-chairs are Marilyn Brown and Jeffrey Korn. The Jewish Film Festival is a program of the Jewish Community Center.
0 comments