INTRODUCING WMJFF’s FILM FORUM!!
Enjoy great Classic Jewish American and International Films
And hear from our guest speakers online
Although the doors of Bethlehem’s Colonial Theatre must remain closed during this time of social distancing.
The show must go on! “On-line”, that is!
BHC will offer the “White Mountain Film Forum”, a live discussion of classic Jewish American and International Films lead by guest speakers on line via Zoom. Here is what BHC’s White Mountain Jewish Film Festival will look like will look like:
“Watch the movie” You can find all of our films this season on Amazon Video. The cost of renting the film varies from $2.00 to $4.00 on Amazon, less than half the cost of a movie ticket and can be viewed over the Internet on your computer, tablet, phone or Smart TV.
Sign up for WMJFF Film Forum, to meet film directors, writers, critics and educators who can add their professional insights about each film.
Join the Conversation live on Zoom. It’s Free!
Sign up! It’s Free!!
Contact WMJFF
at
whitemountainjewishfilm@gmail.com
For all the info you need
And here is the line up:
Focus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrpXQg7-VDI
A timid office worker tries to deal with hatred and anti-Semitism in 1940s Brooklyn, causing conflict in his community as a result of mistaken identity during the height of World War II. The movie is based on a novel by Arthur Miller, which he says was written during a period of disillusionment with the stage; angered by American anti-Semitism even during the war against Hitler, he wrote it in a white heat. It's a didactic warning that it can happen here.
Roger Ebert
Director: Neal Slavin Production year: 2001 Rating: PG-13
Studio: Paramount Vantage Runtime: 108 minutes
Cast: William H. Macy, Laura Dern, David Paymer, Meat Loaf, Kay Hawtrey
“Focus” Film Forum July 16, 7:30 PM
Guest Speaker: Neal Slavin: Director of Focus is an American photographer and television/film director. He is the author of Portugal (1971), When Two or More are Gathered Together (1976) and Britons (1986). Since 1988, Slavin has undertaken film-making and commercials for television. In 1994, he ceased his commercial work to devote all his time to developing, directing and producing “Focus”, based on Arthur Miller’s only novel, about prejudice and race in America in the early 1940s.
Remembrance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjxrw8J2uXA
Inspired by actual events, THE REMEMBRANCE depicts a remarkable love story that blossomed amidst the terror of a German concentration camp in Poland 1944. In a daring escape TOMASZ a young Polish prisoner rescues his Jewish lover HANNAH SILBERSTEIN. But during the chaos of the end of the war, they are forcibly separated and each is convinced that the other has died. More than thirty years later in New York City, the happily married woman HANNAH believes to have seen her TOMASZ in an interview on TV. And she begins to search for him again.
Director: Anna Justice Year of Production: 2011 Languages: English, German, Polish
Written by Pamela Katz
Running Time: 105 min
Special Offer: when you register for the Film Forum for “Remembrance” We will send you a free Vimeo link to watch this movie on line!
“Remembrance” Film Forum July 30, 7:30 PM
Guest Speaker: Carole Renard, NEH Oral History Project Coordinator at National Yiddish Book Center In addition to interviewing community members and scholars about Jewish history and culture, she transcribes and indexes the extensive collection of interviews to make them more accessible to the public. Renard holds a BA in Anthropology and Jewish Studies from Smith College, and an MA in Jewish Studies from University College, London.
The Chosen
Corinth Films
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAMz8_MoqrM
Danny, a Hasidic Jew, meets Reuven, a Zionist, while playing baseball. Although they have differences, their friendship grows strong. When they reach college, outspoken support by Reuven's professor father for a national Jewish state causes conflicts with Danny's conservative father leading to tension for the friends.
Director: Jeremy Kagan Release date: April 30, 1982 (USA) Runtime: 108 minutes Rating: PG
Screenplay: Chaim Potok Studio: 20th Century Fox
Cast: Robbie Benson, Barry Miller, Maximilian Schell, Rod Steiger
“The Chosen” Film Forum August 13, 7:30 PM
Guest Speaker: Rick Winston, Film expert and lecturer, author and co-owner of Montpelier’s Savoy Theatre and Programming Director for the Green Mountain Film Festival for 14 years. He has taught film history at Burlington College, Community College of Vermont, Goddard College, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, has made presentations throughout Vermont on film history and is WMJFF’s favorite guest speaker.
God’s Slave
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68tGV2SejX0
Based on the actual events of a 1994 bombing in Buenos Aires still making headlines today, GOD'S SLAVE follows Ahmed, trained since childhood as an Islamic terrorist now assigned to execute a suicide bombing at a synagogue, and David, the cold-blooded Israeli special agent who will stop at nothing to prevent the attack. But neither man is defined solely by their extremist views. Ahmed, posing as a doctor, lives happily with his wife and young son; though David’s marriage is on the rocks, he remains devoted to his wife and daughter. With time running out before the attack, David zeros in on Ahmed as a suspect, his investigation culminating in violent, if unexpected, consequences.
Directed by Joel Novoa Production Year: 2013 Rating: NR Running Time: 90 Minutes
Filmed in: Venezuela, Argentina Language: Spanish
“God’s Slave” Film Forum August 27, 7:30 PM
Marjorie Agosin Chilean-American poet, novelist and human rights activist, The daughter of Jewish parents who fled Europe. The family moved to the United states to escape the military coup that overthrew Salvador Allende’s Socialist government.
In both her scholarship and her creative work, Professor Agosin focuses on social justice, feminism, and remembrance and has received numerous honors and awards for her writing and work as a human rights activist, including a Jeanette Rankin Award in Human Rights and a United Nations Leadership Award for Human Rights. The Chilean government honored her with a Gabriela Mistral Medal for Lifetime Achievement. Agosín is the Luella LaMer Slaner Professor in Latin American studies and a professor of Spanish and Latin American literature at Wellesley College.
Sign up! It’s Free!!
Contact WMJFF
at
whitemountainjewishfilm@gmail.com
For all the info you need
White Mountain Jewish Film Festival
Sign up (it’s free!) at:
whitemountainjewishfilm@gmail.com
Focus | Film Forum July 16, 7:30pm
Details: Paramount Vantage Studios, 2001, (108 Min) PG-13
Directed by: Neal Slavin
Starring: William H. Macy, Laura Dern, David Paymer, Meat Loaf, Kay Hawtrey
A timid office worker tries to deal with hatred and anti-Semitism in 1940s Brooklyn, causing conflict in his community as a result of mistaken identity during the height of World War II. The movie is based on a novel by Arthur Miller, which he says was written during a period of disillusionment with the stage; angered by American anti-Semitism even during the war against Hitler, he wrote it in a white heat. It's a didactic warning that it can happen here. —Roger Ebert
Neal Slavin
Our Speaker: Director of Focus
Neal Slavin an American photographer and television/film director. He is the author of Portugal (1971), When Two or More are Gathered Together (1976) and Britons (1986). Since 1988, Slavin has undertaken film-making and commercials for television. In 1994, he ceased his commercial work to devote all his time to developing, directing and producing “Focus”, based on Arthur Miller’s only novel, about prejudice and race in America in the early 1940s.
Remembrance | Film Forum July 30, 7:30pm
Special Offer: when you register for the Film Forum for “Remembrance” We will send you a free Vimeo link to watch this movie on line!
Details: Paramount Vantage Studios, 2011, (105 Min) NR
Directed by: Anna Justice
Written by: Pamela Katz
Starring: Alice Dwyer, Mateusz Damiecki, Dagmar Manzel
Languages: English, German, Polish
Inspired by actual events, THE REMEMBRANCE depicts a remarkable love story that blossomed amidst the terror of a German concentration camp in Poland 1944. In a daring escape TOMASZ a young Polish prisoner rescues his Jewish lover HANNAH SILBERSTEIN. But during the chaos of the end of the war, they are forcibly separated and each is convinced that the other has died. More than thirty years later in New York City, the happily married woman HANNAH believes to have seen her TOMASZ in an interview on TV. And she begins to search for him again.
Carole Renard
Our Speaker: NEH Oral History Project Coordinator at National Yiddish Book Center
In addition to interviewing community members and scholars about Jewish history and culture, she transcribes and indexes the extensive collection of interviews to make them more accessible to the public. Renard holds a BA in Anthropology and Jewish Studies from Smith College, and an MA in Jewish Studies from University College, London.
The Chosen | Film Forum August 14, 7:30p
Details: 20th Century Fox, 1982, (108 Min) PG
Directed by: Jeremy Kagan
Screenplay: Chaim Potok
Starring: Robbie Benson, Barry Miller, Maximilian Schell, Rod Steiger
Danny, a Hasidic Jew, meets Reuven, a Zionist, while playing baseball. Although they have differences, their friendship grows strong. When they reach college, outspoken support by Reuven's professor father for a national Jewish state causes conflicts with Danny's conservative father leading to tension for the friends.
Rick Winston
Our Speaker: Film expert and lecturer
Author and co-owner of Montpelier’s Savoy Theatre and Programming Director for the Green Mountain Film Festival for 14 years, Winston has taught film history at Burlington College, Community College of Vermont, Goddard College, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, has made presentations throughout Vermont on film history and is WMJFF’s favorite guest speaker.
God’s Slave | Film Forum August 27, 7:30p
Details: Filmed in Venezuela, Argentina, 2013, (90 Min) NR
Directed by: Joel Novoa
Starring: Mohammed Alkhaldi, Daniela Alvarado, Laureano Olivares, Marialejandra Martin
Languages: Spanish
Based on the actual events of a 1994 bombing in Buenos Aires still making headlines today, GOD'S SLAVE follows Ahmed, trained since childhood as an Islamic terrorist now assigned to execute a suicide bombing at a synagogue, and David, the cold-blooded Israeli special agent who will stop at nothing to prevent the attack. But neither man is defined solely by their extremist views. Ahmed, posing as a doctor, lives happily with his wife and young son; though David’s marriage is on the rocks, he remains devoted to his wife and daughter. With time running out before the attack, David zeros in on Ahmed as a suspect, his investigation culminating in violent, if unexpected, consequences.
Marjorie Agosin
Our Speaker: Chilean-American poet, novelist and human rights activist
Marjorie Agosin is the daughter of Jewish parents who fled Europe. The family moved to the United states to escape the military coup that overthrew Salvador Allende’s Socialist government.
In both her scholarship and her creative work, Professor Agosin focuses on social justice, feminism, and remembrance and has received numerous honors and awards for her writing and work as a human rights activist, including a Jeanette Rankin Award in Human Rights and a United Nations Leadership Award for Human Rights. The Chilean government honored her with a Gabriela Mistral Medal for Lifetime Achievement. Agosín is the Luella LaMer Slaner Professor in Latin American studies and a professor of Spanish and Latin American literature at Wellesley College.
2020 Series Coming Soon!
In these uncertain times, we have temporarily paused our season. Stay tuned for updates—we hope to feature a few films this summer.
Join us Thursdays at the Colonial Theater (Main St, Bethlehem). 6pm reception on the Colonial patio, 6:30pm speaker to introduce the night’s film, 7pm film showing. Lively Q&A following film. Questions? Comments? Contact Artistic Director Dorothy Goldstone at dorothygoldstone@gmail.com.
$9/$10
Per Film
If buying tickets on a film-by-film basis, BHC Member tickets are $9 and General Admission tickets are $10
$40/$45
Season Passes
Do you plan on joining us for 4 or more films this season? Buy the season pass and save! BHC Member - $40, General Admission - $45
Past Film Series
We have saved our past film series logs for your knowledge base. If you need assistance finding a past film or have suggestions for future seasons, please email Artistic Director Dorothy Goldstone: dorothygoldstone@gmail.com
Co-sponsored by the Gretchen Beinecke Trust
We are ready and eager to invest in speakers for every event. This is our biggest budget item, since most speakers are traveling to Bethlehem and require room and board, as well as an honorarium. Your donations, large and small, are the underpinning of the WMJFF and promote our ultimate goal of “Building Community Through the Arts." Thank you so much for your generous support!
For more information, call 917-838-2646, Dorothy Goldstone, Festival Director, WMJFF