By Roger Costa
The New York Jewish Film Festival 2018 continues its showcase of contemporary, important Jewish Filmmaking from around the globe held at Film Society of Lincoln Center and The Jewish Museum thru January 23. In its second week, NYJFF will screen a fantastic line-up of acclaimed productions, ranging from comedies and dramas to adventurous escapes and investigative docs, mostly with the presence of its filmmaker:
THE INVISIBLE
A beguiling and haunting blend of documentary and fiction, writer-director Claus Räfle conceives an invigorating dramatization of the pressures and torments of war, as he investigates how a group of youngsters were able to hide their real identities from Nazis, living under the edge amongst the enemy. The film hears out the drama experienced by four survivors through moving interviews with them, while a superb cast perform the intensity and risks of their double identity journey.
MR. AND MRS. ADELMAN
Extremely funny, scandalous and satirical, director Nicolas Bedos’ analyses on marriage, will certainly give you a pleasurable time inside the movie theater with its humorous commentaries on modern relationship and family. Doria Tiller and Bedos himself are in perfect chemistry as the eccentric couple, a writer and his muse, as the narrative follows them from the beginning of the love affair spanning decades of deliriously affecting confusions.
ACROSS THE WATERS
Many Jewish communities lived under privileged circumstances in Denmark until autumn of 1943. Emotionally-charged and infused with spiritual elements, Nicolo Donato’s chilling adventure follows a family on the run for survival, defying tragic obstacles, collecting and losing along the way, as they struggle to reach a safe point. A stunning look at hope and faith with powerful performances.
WEST OF THE JORDAN RIVER
Director Amos Gitai travels through the Palestinian area, affected by religious, political and infra-structure conflicts, meeting and interviewing activists and authorities from both sides, as well as regular people, old and young, all in search of understanding while crying out for respect, dignity and peace. The film makes a parallel between the events leading to the conflict, negotiations done in the 90’s and the current situation, with courageous accuracy.
ONE DAY IN ROME
Director Valerio Ciriaci’s short-doc provides a fascinating glimpse at a Jewish community living in Rome and how they mingle in a diverse society, while firmly representing their cultural traditions. Filled with beautiful humor and naturally precise observations on human interaction and routine.
TRACKING EDITH
The Austro-British photographer Edith Tudor-Hart is the subject of investigation in Peter Stephan Jungk’s compelling and intriguing doc that chronicles her double life as a spy for the KGB, while building up a formidable historical account on a brave, intimidating feminine example of resistance.
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