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THURSDAY, March 30
6 p.m. Photographer
(Poland/Germany, 1998, 80 min.) A stunning documentary
about the Lodz ghetto, which tells the story of the lives and
deaths of doomed Jews through the dispassionate slide photographs
of a Third Reich accountant.
Sponsored by G.M. Pollack & Sons.
OPENING NIGHT FEATURE
8 p.m. The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg
(USA, 1999, 90 min.) A new documentary that looks at the accomplishments,
on and off the baseball field, of America's first big-league
Jewish ball player.
In person: Director Aviva Kempner
Reception to follow at JavaNet Cafe. Cash food and coffee bar.
Screening sponsored by the Portland Sea Dogs
and Four Seasons Baseball.
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FRIDAY, March 31
7:30 p.m. At Congregation Bet Ha'am as part of evening services.
god@heaven (USA, 1998, 21 min.) A small boy
sends an e-mail message to God.
Join Congregation Bet Ha'am for dinner as part of Shabbat
Across America at 6 p.m. For info and reservations, call 207-879-0028.
7:30 p.m. At Temple Beth El as part of evening services.
A conversation about the mikveh with Shari Rothfarb,
director of Ocean Avenue. For info call 207-774-2649.
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SATURDAY, April 1
8 p.m. The Giraffe
(Germany, 1998, 107 min.) A taut, stylish thriller set
in Germany and New York that explores the complex relationship
between today's Jews and Germans, and the secrets and silences
that persist between them. Stars the director and acclaimed German
actress Maria Schrader.
Preceded by Without Me (Germany, 1993, 30 min.)
A darkly witty and sometimes harrowing look at the psyche of
a young Jewish-German filmmaker, who runs obsessively to escape
the ghosts of the Holocaust that he sees everywhere.
Invited: Director and star Dani Levy. Reception to
follow at JavaNet Cafe. Cash food and coffee bar.
Screening sponsored by Borders Books Music
Cafe, with assistance from the Consulate General of the Federal
Republic of Germany.
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SUNDAY, April 2
WOMEN FILMMAKERS FORUM
10:30 a.m. Four films by women about coming to terms, standing
up, and growing old.
Ocean Avenue (USA, 1999, 20 min.) On the eve of
her last visit to the mikvah, Luna fears the sum of her life
isn't enough, and sets off in search of her vanished daughter.
Silence (Great Britain, 1998, 10 min.) A
haunting and inventive animated film that captures the surreal
world of a child who survives Therensienstadt thanks to her resourceful
grandmother.
Women of the Wall (USA, 1999, 31 min.) A look at
the rise of feminism in Israel as reflected in the efforts of
a group of Jewish women to pray at the Kotel, or Western
Wall in Jerusalem.
The Personals: Improvisations on Romance in the Golden
Years (USA, 1998, 37 min.) An Oscar-winning look at a
group of elderly Jews in New York as they rehearse a play about
the joys and sorrows of their lives.
In person: Faye Lederman, director of "Women of the Wall"
and Shari Rothfarb, director of "Ocean Avenue." Invited:
Keiko Ibi, director of "The Personals."
Sponsored by Greenhut Galleries
and by the Women's Studies Program of the University of Southern
Maine.
HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM
1 p.m. The Giraffe (Germany,1998, 107 min.)
A taut, stylish thriller set in Germany and New York that explores
the complex relationship between today's Jews and Germans, and
the secrets and silences that persist between them. Stars the
director and acclaimed German actress Maria Schrader.
Preceded by Without Me (Germany, 1993, 30 min.)
A darkly witty and sometimes harrowing look at the psyche of
a young Jewish-German filmmaker, who runs obsessively to escape
neo-fascism and the ghosts of the Holocaust that he sees everywhere.
Invited: Director and star Dani Levy.
Free to any high school student, but
tickets are required. Adults pay regular admission.
4 p.m. The Port of Last Resort (Austria/USA,
1998, 79 min.) Archival footage, diaries, photographs and interviews
with survivors tell the little-known story of European Jewish
refugees who found unlikely haven from the Holocaust in China's
Shanghai.
Sponsored by Adele Aronson, broker,
RE/MAX By The Bay and by Century Tire and Auto Service Centers.
6 p.m. Chants of Sands and Stars (France, 1997,
90 min.) A unique compilation of footage of chazzanut, or Jewish
liturgical pieces, from across the Jewish world.
Sponsored by Geraldine Wolf Antique &
Estate Jewelry.
8 p.m. Yana's Friends (Israel, 1999, 90 min.)
Sophisticated and witty tale of a young, pregnant Russian immigrant
left to fend for herself, and fall in love, in Israel during
the Gulf War.
Sponsored by Maine Film Office and by
Monahan Associates.
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MONDAY, April 3
6 p.m. The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg (USA,
1999, 90 min.) A new documentary that looks at the accomplishments,
on and off the baseball field, of America's first big-league
Jewish ball player.
Sponsored by The Racket & Fitness
Center and by Four Seasons Baseball, Inc.
8 p.m. Jews and Buddhism: Belief Amended, Faith Revealed
(USA, 1999, 41min.) Documentary look at the spiritual foundations
of two cultures that enrich each other.
Preceded by The Personals: Improvisations on Romance in
the Golden Years (USA, 1998, 37 min.) An Oscar-winning
look at a group of elderly Jews in New York as they rehearse
a play about the joys and sorrows of their lives.
In Person: Rabbi Alan Lew of San Francisco, author of "One
God Clapping: The Spiritual Path of a Zen Rabbi," who incorporates
meditation into the life of his congregation. Rabbi Lew will
be signing copies of his book (on sale at the theater) before
and after the screening, and also at a 6 p.m. book reading and
signing at Borders.
Reception to follow at JavaNet Cafe. Cash food and coffee
bar.
Sreening sponsored by Walter's Cafe
and by Big Sky Bread Company.
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TUESDAY, April 4
6 p.m. SHORT FILMS MEDLEY: A festival crowd-pleaser last year,
we've once again collected four shorts for laughing and knowing
oneself: Kalinka Maya (Israel, 1997, 50
min.) Two young men from Tel Aviv look for love with two Russian
women. Village of Idiots (Canada, 1999, 13 min.)
A man discovers a village identical to his own in this animated
Sholem Aleichem story. The Turkey (Belgium, 1998,
18 min.) A turkey needs to be plucked and Alfred is not game.
god@heaven (USA, 1998, 21 min.) A small boy sends
an e-mail message God.
Sponsored by Treehouse Toys.
8 p.m. Man Is A Woman (France, 1998, 97 min.)
Romantic comedy about shifting sexual and religious identities
in the search for love.
Sponsored by Videoport.
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WEDNESDAY, April 5
CLOSING DAY MATINEE
1 p.m. The Personals: Improvisations on Romance in the
Golden Years (USA, 1998, 37 min.) An Oscar-winning look
at a group of elderly Jews in New York as they rehearse a play
about the joys and sorrows of their lives.
And Karussell (Germany, 1998, 65 min.) A documentary
about Kurt Gerron, a Jewish-German actor, director and cabaret
performer who went from stardom in 1930s Berlin to a controversial
"career" in Theresienstadt to death in Auschwitz. With
music of the times by contemporary German performers.
Special invitation to seniors
This program is free to all seniors, but tickets are required.
Reserve tickets through the Festival or through the Jewish Community
Alliance.
Join the Chai Society for lunch at Fresh Market Pasta at noon.
Call the JCA at 207-772-1959.
Presented in conjunction with the Chai
Society of the Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine.
6 p.m. Happy Birthday, Mr. Mograbi (Israel,
1999, 77 min.) Three interwoven themes that meld the personal
and political: the celebration of Israel's 50th birthday, the
defeat of the Arabs, and Mograbi's own struggle to build a house.
Sponsored by Preti Flaherty Beliveau
Pachios & Haley, LLC.
8 p.m. Kadosh (Israel, 1999, 110 min.) Childless
after 10 years of marriage, Rivka and Meir are tragically torn
between their love for each other and dedication to their religion.
Invited: Director Amos Gitai or lead actress Yael Abecassis.
Anat Gilead, Israeli consul, will make introductory remarks.
Reception to follow at JavaNet Cafe. Cash food and coffee bar.
Sponsored by JavaNet Café. With special
thanks to the Consulate General of Israel to New England.
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Photographer |
The Life and Times
of Hank Greenberg |
god@heaven |
The Giraffe |
Ocean Avenue |
Silence |
Women of the Wall |
The Personals |
Chants of Sands and Stars |
Yana's Friends |
Jews and Buddhism |
Kalinka Maya |
Village of Idiots |
Man Is A Woman |
Karussell |
Happy Birthday, Mr. Mograbi |
Kadosh |
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