Page 61 - Sonoma County Gazette Oct. 2019
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The 24th Sonoma County
Jewish Film Festival
Featuring a Bay Area Premiere on Clean Water, Many Award Winners, a Sing-Along!
The Jewish Community Center Sonoma proudly presents the 24th Sonoma County Jewish Film Festival, October 10 – November 12, at the Rialto Cinemas, 6868 McKinley, in Sebastopol.
Full Schedule:
  The festival brings the newest and best of Jewish-themed films to the community, this year exploring the relationship between Jewish and non- Jewish culture, and mutual understanding and growth. The films are universal - featuring Sustainable Nation, an important film on water sustainability, The Keeper, the story of a true German-British soccer legend, a series of award winning shorts, and an irreverent music-documentary on American Christmas music. An added feature: a revival and interactive screening of the 1971 Academy Award Winner Fiddler on the Roof for the first time in decades.
The Red Sea Diving Resort
 Review by Diane McCurdy
Don't be mislead by the title this is not a
 The Keeper (Drama)
romantic comedy about lovers frolicking in the waves. It is a thriller about a deserted Italian resort on the Red Sea that becomes a
Thursday, October 10
Winner of Best Production (Bavarian Film Awards) and Audience Award (San Francisco Jewish Film Festival) – the true story of Bert Trautmann, the decorated German SS Soldier and POW who became one of Britain’s all-time soccer legends. The moving film raises tough questions about forgiveness and the power of sports to unite.
Sustainable Nation (Doc)
front for a Mossad run rescue mission. There are times when the truth is stranger than
Thursday, October 17
The Keeper
in the Sudan and bring them to the resort where off shore boats ferry them to Jerusalem. They have to be taken out surreptitiously because Sudan gets a per capita stipend from the United Nations for keeping them locked up. To add to the intrigue, Sudan is in the midst of a civil war. How this isolated community of Ethiopian Jews settled in this desolate area where they have suffered famine and where they have been persecuted lies in the murky ancient history of the Diaspora.
BAY AREA PREMIERE – follow three
Israeli scientists on the cutting edge of water technology as they provide in- novative solutions to dire problems in Uganda, India, and an almond farm in California’s Central Valley.
To begin with the whole scheme is considered reckless at its inception by
all concerned. His cohorts consider Ari, whose idea it is, to be headstrong and impulsive. Back in Israel, Ari must answer to the suits who are equally if not more skeptical than his crew. But no one can come up with a viable alternative. As an wry twist to this desperate situation it appears that someone forgot to remove the brochures for the resort and a group of German tourists show up. They must be accommodated or the cover for the whole operation will be blown.
fiction and this story is so bizarre one could not make it up. The basic facts are true. Israeli agents smuggle out Ethiopian Jews who are in refugee camps
 The show is accompanied by a short film, How to Swim, and the 7 pm screening is followed by a panel talk with experts and Q & A.
Bye Bye Germany (Comic Drama) – Wednesday, October 23 In 1946 David and his friends have escaped the Nazis, but they need money to go to America. The smooth-talking tricksters sell Germans what they “must” need most: fine linens wrapped in amusing stories. But David has a darker past. A film about humor and revenge in the face of overwhelming odds.
Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas: A Short Film Series
Tuesday, October 29
An exciting collection of films linked by the relationship Jews have with the non-Jewish world. The full-length program features multiple award-winners, including inspiring documentaries, a comedy of errors, an experimental film, and an animated Academy Award nominee.
Reluctantly in charge of all this is Ben Kingsley in Jerusalem. Ben seems to
be ubiquitous of late. He has five or six projects pending. In his long career he has been involved in over one hundred film projects from Schindler's List to the voice of Bagheera, the black panther, in Jungle
Fiddler on the Roof – SING ALONG
Tuesday November 5 - with live music, trivia, and costume contest!
Abe (Comedy) – Tuesday, November 12
Avid foodie and inventive cook, 12 year-old Abe (Noah Schnapp, Stranger Things) is half Jewish-Israeli and half Muslim-Palestinian. He navigates his family conflicts with the guidance of a Brazilian chef (Seu Jorge – The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou). The power of food to unite people, and a feast for the senses.
Book. He won an Oscar for Gandhi. In this he mostly just frets and stews while the others on the ground dodge bullets. Ari is played by Chris Evans. Chris is best known as Captain America in Marvel's Avenger series. His role here makes him Captain Israel, a modern day Moses! Alessandro Nivola and Greg Kinnear as the American ambassador round out the more notable members of the cast.
 All films screen twice on the day, at 1 pm and 7 pm.
Tickets can be purchased at the Jcc Website: www.jccsoco.org. Trailers to all of the films can be found at: http://www.jccsoco.org/2019jff
The criticism has been that this is just another "white savior" movie. However some white savior types are actually saviors. The film examines a little known historical event that happened in the 80's and has recently been de-classified. It is suspenseful and well-executed. Stream it at your convenience on Netflix.
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