LOUISVILLE, KY – Heading towards adulthood, the Jewish Film Festival brings a more mature line up of movies and documentaries in its 15th year. The festival will challenge audiences with the complexities of Jewish culture and what it means to be Jewish in the modern era. The festival runs from February 9-21 at locations throughout Louisville. The festival starts with a bang. On February 9th,
My Best Enemy brings the drama of World War II in Nazi Germany. Two best friends must switch places to recover a stolen piece of artwork while competing over a shared love interest. The movie will be shown at Village 8 Theaters at 7:30. In partnership with the Muhammad Ali Center, the Jewish Film Festival will screen A Bottle in the Gaza Sea, on Sunday, February 10. Admission to the film is free with a $2 admission to view the exhibits at the Ali Center.
A Bottle in the Gaza Sea tells the story of Tal, an Israeli who experiences a terrorist attack at her local café. Instead of hatred, she has her brother throw a bottle with a message of peace into the Gaza Sea. When she receives an email response from NaÏm, a teenage Palestinian, the two develop a friendship through email. A discussion lead by Rabbi Joe Rooks Rapport and dessert will follow the movie. Other highlights include Hava Nagila, a documentary about one of the most famous pieces of music in the world as it grows in popularity over the past 150 years. Lost Tribe, a Louisville Klezmer band will perform after the screening. The documentary, Wilfrid Israel, was co-produced by Louisvillian Bonnie Bizer. Israel was a friend of her cousin who co-founded the kibbutz which Israel sent hundreds of his German Jewish department store employees to safety in 1936. Israel was also instrumental in the operations of the Kindertransport.
Tickets for most films cost $8.50 in advance, $10 at the door. Student tickets can be purchased for $6. To purchase tickets, visit www.jewishlouisville.org/filmfestival or call the JCC at 459-0660. A complete schedule, film descriptions and trailers are also online.