Jewish Film Festival: Planetarium isn’t much to look up to

August 2, 2017August 2, 2017 ~ Lincoln Spector ~ 1 Comment

I caught an 8:45 SF Jewish Film Festival screening of Planetarium Tuesday night. Unfortunately, the movie wasn't worth watching. The story was absurd, and worse, its execution was dull and boring. Only one of the three main characters was at all interesting, and we never really got to know her. The film follows the adventures of … Continue reading Jewish Film Festival: Planetarium isn’t much to look up to

Survivor documentaries: Sunday at the Jewish Film Fest

July 31, 2017 ~ Lincoln Spector

Attending the SanFrancisco Jewish Film Festival in the East Bay is an entirely different social experience than going to any other festival...at least it is for me. When I go to most festivals, I socialize with other cinephiles - people I've come to know and befriend because we all love cinema. But at the Jewish … Continue reading Survivor documentaries: Sunday at the Jewish Film Fest

I’m Okay at the Jewish Film Fest in Albany

July 29, 2017July 28, 2017 ~ Lincoln Spector ~ 1 Comment

As the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival moves to the East Bay, it becomes much more convenient for me. The Albany Twin theater is less than a mile from my home. Friday afternoon, my wife and I attended our first Jewish Film Festival event in walking distance, a screening of the German documentary, I'm Okay. … Continue reading I’m Okay at the Jewish Film Fest in Albany

An Inconvenient Screening of an Important Sequel

July 25, 2017 ~ Lincoln Spector

I saw An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power Monday night at a San Francisco Jewish Film Festival screening at the Castro. It's a powerful and important film. But for the average ticket holder, much of the event was a mess. The big attraction: Al Gore live on stage. And yes, he was wonderful. But the … Continue reading An Inconvenient Screening of an Important Sequel

Before and after the Holocaust: Saturday at the SF Jewish Film Fest

July 23, 2017 ~ Lincoln Spector

I caught two movies Saturday at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. The first was set just before official anti-Semitism turned into genocide. The second one was set right after the war. Voyage of the Damned This big-budget overstuffed turkey from 1976 tells an important and largely true story, and one that's exceptionally important today. … Continue reading Before and after the Holocaust: Saturday at the SF Jewish Film Fest

Keep the Change & The Jewish Film Festival Opening Night

July 21, 2017July 22, 2017 ~ Lincoln Spector

The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival opened Thursday night with Rachel Israel's Keep the Change, a romantic comedy set in the world of serious mental disabilities. That may sound disturbing, but it's lovely and moving. The event started almost on time with a selection of past trailers. All of them were funny, including this year's … Continue reading Keep the Change & The Jewish Film Festival Opening Night

Jewish Film Festival Preview, Part 2

July 2, 2017June 30, 2017 ~ Lincoln Spector

Here's four more movies that will screen at this year's San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. As usual, I've listed them from best to worst - although there are no real turkeys in this batch. You can also check out my first collection. A Fanny's Journey In occupied France, a school mistress attempts to smuggle a … Continue reading Jewish Film Festival Preview, Part 2

Jewish Film Festival Preview, Part 1

June 27, 2017 ~ Lincoln Spector

Here's my first, 2017 collection of San Francisco Jewish Film Festival mini-reviews. As usual, I'm starting with the must-sees and ending with the easy-to-misses. A 1945 August 1945. Two Orthodox Jews get off the train in a small Hungarian town. Who are they and what do they want? But this movie isn't about them. It's about the … Continue reading Jewish Film Festival Preview, Part 1

This year’s Jewish Film Fest deals with refugees, music, romance, and yes, genocide

June 22, 2017 ~ Lincoln Spector

This year's San Francisco Jewish Film Festival focuses considerably on the traditional command of tikkun olam (healing the world). Several of the films have little or nothing to do with Judaism, but they are very much about justice, charity, freedom, and cleaning the planet - all parts of tikkun olam. But not all. The festival … Continue reading This year’s Jewish Film Fest deals with refugees, music, romance, and yes, genocide

San Francisco portion of Jewish Festival ends with Mr. Spock

August 1, 2016 ~ Lincoln Spector

Sunday night I attended the last screening at the Castro Theatre for this year's San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. The festival itself will continue in other Bay Area locations. The film was For The Love of Spock, Adam Nimoy's loving tribute to his father, Leonard, and the character that made his father famous. Adam Nimoy, … Continue reading San Francisco portion of Jewish Festival ends with Mr. Spock