I saw three films at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival Tuesday. Two were documentaries about ultra-Orthodox Jews connecting with outsiders. The third was a dramatic comedy about a Holocaust vacation. I don't have to tell you why these are Jewish films. They're obvious. City of Joel A short fiction film, Black Hat, preceded the … Continue reading Religious fanatics and a strange honeymoon: Tuesday at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
Category: Documentaries
A lovable Hollywood mogul, the Holocaust & the Occupation, and the man who made Casablanca: Saturday at the SF Jewish Film Fest
I saw three movies at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival Saturday. Two of them were documentaries, the other was a fiction film based on history. One of them was the best I've seen at this year's festival. Another was the worst. Carl Laemmle This interesting, entertaining, but conventional documentary tells us that the creator … Continue reading A lovable Hollywood mogul, the Holocaust & the Occupation, and the man who made Casablanca: Saturday at the SF Jewish Film Fest
A Daredevil Photographer and the invention of a movie camera: The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival moves to Albany
Thursday evening, the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival spread out to the East Bay, screening films at the Albany Twin. This makes my commute much easier. The festival is still going on at the Castro through Sunday. Here are the first two films I've seen so far at the Albany. Both are about photography, but … Continue reading A Daredevil Photographer and the invention of a movie camera: The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival moves to Albany
Take Action Day at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
Monday was Take Action Day at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. It's kind of a strange name when you think about it. Sitting in a movie theater all day is anything but taking action. Of course, what it really means is that the films (all documentaries) will inspire you to take action. And the … Continue reading Take Action Day at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
San Francisco Jewish Film Festival: Sunday at the Castro
Sunday was my first full day at this year's San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. I saw three features: two documentaries and one narrative. They were all good, but none were excellent. This Is Personal Watching this documentary sometimes feels like experiencing all the horrors of the last three years all over again. But it also … Continue reading San Francisco Jewish Film Festival: Sunday at the Castro
Be Natural: The Untold Story Of Alice Guy-Blaché
A Cinema history documentary Directed by Pamela B. Green When I review a biographical documentary, I look for more than an interesting life conventionally told. I want a new way to tell the story, with innovations that help rather than distract. Pamela B. Green does all that in this telling of the first woman film … Continue reading Be Natural: The Untold Story Of Alice Guy-Blaché
The Waldheim Waltz dances with two left feet
C Documentary Directed by Ruth Beckermann I saw this documentary before its screening in last year's San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. I then wrote this review, but held it back, waiting until the film had a theatrical run in the Bay Area. That has not yet happened. But I have just discovered that it's streaming … Continue reading The Waldheim Waltz dances with two left feet
