Our family has decided on a different approach to Hanukah this year. With a bad financial year behind us, spending hundreds of dollars on presents is no longer a viable option. To be honest, it was never a good idea anyway; it’s not what the holiday is about.
My daughter and I sit down to come up with different ways to celebrate, and she actually has some good input. We’ll bake cookies, and we’ll have game night. On night four, we are going to stuff ourselves with Sufganyot and have movie night. With popcorn, of course, which will cause it to go into the books as the unhealthiest one.
We hit a snag when we try to decide on which movie to pick.
“I like that one with the Christmas puppies,” my five-year-old son says.
What?
“That one’s not out yet, and besides, not exactly a Hanukkah movie, is it?” I ask him.
He shrugs; he doesn’t know of Hanukah movies, and besides, this one has puppies, what’s not to like?
We decided a few years ago to stop complaining about the overwhelming presence of Christmas stuff, but for this, I’ll make an exception: why are there no good Hanukah movies? (And no, Eight Crazy Nights doesn’t count). Would it be so hard to come up with a fun story, set against the backdrop of the great oil miracle? Aren’t those Maccabees every bit as cool as Russell Crowe’s Gladiator?
The argument that the audience isn’t large enough to make it viable doesn’t hold; after all, many movies are made each year that successfully bomb. I won’t name any names. Also, we have numerous Jewish artists who are totally capable. Adam Sandler made Bedtime Stories, a fabulous tale without cussing and extraneous body parts (or the showing thereof), which my kids have watched at least 20 times. Surely he can make a Hanukah movie that’s worthy of watching.
So, here’s the challenge to all you filmmakers out there: give us our own Holiday classic. Enough with the Bad Santas, the toppled Christmas trees, and the Home Alone-ness. We want falling Menorahs setting the house on fire, Latke-recipes-gone-wrong, and Sufganyot-fights. We want Maccabees with really sharp swords, and we want the action figures to match. And then, when all is said and done, we want a really happy ending.
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Comments
Cute article! Thanks for this...it's nice to see Hanuakah articles. I have to figure how to tie one in to my article. Since I'm originally from NY, I've seen the largest menorah in NYC, but not recently, so I don't have a photo of that. I also don't know of any Hanukah landmarks around here.....My latest article is about the lobster trap Christmas tree in Rockland, Maine. Anyway, nice piece, thanks.
Love your article! Love your financial take on the holiday this year... we are doing similar, however my kids are older so one would think that they understand "broke" a little better (and yet my 17 yr old still pouts over no presents) and you are so right about getting Hollywood motivated to make a Hanukah movie. I would go see it definitely!
From your mouth to God's ear! Chag Sameach, Tinamarie
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