Enzian, JCC present 10th annual Jewish Film Festival, starting Sunday

November 12, 11:23 AMOrlando Theater and Film ExaminerJennifer Greenhill-Taylor

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The 10th Annual Central Florida Jewish Film Festival at the Enzian Theater is coming up this weekend, and it features a documentary,  Constantine's Sword, by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Oren Jacoby. The documentary explores the dark side of Christianity, as it follows author and former priest James Carroll on an enthralling journey of remembrance and reckoning.

The festival offers feature films and shorts with universal themes that have a particular relevance to the Jewish community. These are movies you won't see at a big-box cinema.
The fest, co-presented with the Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando, begins Sunday, Nov. 16. and continues Monday, Nov. 17. 

The films are chosen by a group of volunteers from the JCC, who spend a couple of nights a week during the summer viewing and choosing from films that come to the Enzian from all over the world. Enzian staff also views the films and the lists are compared to make the final choices.
"We probably viewed 60 films," said David Wayne of the JCC.
"The goal of the film festival committee is to find films that are interesting for an audience of all ages and backgrounds and represent
the Jewish people in a positive light,"said Jackie Ossin, one of the JCC film committee members."We sometimes seek out Jewish themes and sometimes just an interesting film by someone Jewish to find an eclectic collection of ideas, documentaries, and creative thinking,"
Immediately after the showing of Constantine's Sword on Sunday, there will be a discussion about the film led by Mich Bloomer of the Holocaust Center.

The films and times:

Sunday, Nov. 16
11 a.m.

SIXTY SIX

England, summer 1966.  For nerdy 12-year-old Bernie Rubens, (Gregg Sulkin, with Helena Bonham Carter who plays his mother, in photo at left) the biggest day of his life is looming, the day he becomes a man—his Bar Mitzvah.  His parents, Manny (Eddie Marsan, Vera Drake) and Esther (Helena Bonham Carter, Sweeney Todd) however, have accidentally scheduled it for the day of the World Cup final, so if England makes it, no one will attend.  Based on director Paul Weiland’s own experiences, this is a gentle, deeply touching comedy about the ups and downs of childhood.  UK, 2006, 94 min, rated PG-13, Directed by Paul Weiland

1:30 p.m.

CONSTANTINE’S SWORD
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Oren Jacoby’s CONSTANTINE’S SWORD is an exploration of the dark side of Christianity, from the Emperor’s vision of the cross as a sword and symbol of power, to the rise of genocidal antisemitism.  At its heart a detective story about religious extremism that reverberates across the centuries, this provocative documentary follows acclaimed author and former priest James Carroll on an enthralling journey of remembrance and reckoning. USA, 2007, 95 min, Not Rated, Directed by Oren Jacoby

Monday, Nov. 17
4:00 p.m.

CIRCUMCISE ME: IT’S NOT IN HEAVEN  Southeast Premiere!

“Is it hot in here, or am I the only one dressed for Poland in the 17th century?”  Yisrael Campbell looks more like a rabbi than a stand-up comedian, but don’t let that fool you.  This performer is seriously funny and his film portrait is a hilarious and moving story of one man’s quest for spiritual enlightenment against the bewildering backdrop of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel, 2008, 48 min, Not Rated, Directed by David Blumenfeld & Matthew Kalman

preceded by:

WAVES OF FREEDOM  Southeast Premiere!
This eye-opening documentary recounts one of the strangest and craziest unknown war adventure stories of the post WWII period. Using recently discovered archives, it brilliantly retells the unforgettable story of how American volunteers got involved in trying to break the British blockade of Palestine in 1947.  Their journeys and battles became one of the boldest and brashest chapters in the saga that led to the creation of the State of Israel. Israel, 2008, 52 min, Not Rated, Directed by Alan Rosenthal

6:45 p.m.

THE SECRETS

A studious, devoutly religious daughter of a prominent rabbi convinces her father to postpone her marriage for a year so that she might study at a Jewish seminary for women. But her quest for individuality takes a defiant turn when she befriends a free-spirited, headstrong fellow student. Nominated for 8 Israeli Film Academy Awards and co-starring French actress, Fanny Ardant (Ridicule, 8 Women), THE SECRETS is an extraordinary, entertaining, and daring look at a forbidden world.  France/Israel, 2007, 127 min, Rated R, Directed by Avi Nesher, In Hebrew and French with English subtitles  

TICKET INFORMATION:

Mensch Pass (Four programs, First Priority Seating) $60
Series Pass (Four Programs, Second Priority Seating) $35
Single Admission (Third Priority Seating) $10