by Ara Rubyan | Sep 5, 2010
Saturday, January 22, 2011, 7:30 PM
(English) 98 minutes
Where I Stand: The Hank Greenspun Story
Where I Stand: The Hank Greenspun Story is a documentary of the endlessly surprising life of this charismatic newspaperman, Vegas icon and real-life Zelig. Greenspun’s epic journey from associate of mobster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel to maverick founder of the Las Vegas Sun (and its long-running “Where I Stand’ editorial) features a colorful cast of characters including high-rolling businessmen and gangsters, movie stars, politicians, family and wheeler-dealer friends. Following Siegel’s murder in 1947, the crusading Greenspun rediscovered his Jewish heritage, and became a prominent guerrilla figure in Israeli politics and gun smuggling. Director Scott Goldstein combines archival stills, illuminating interviews, rare diary entries read by Anthony Hopkins, and atmospheric music to create a spirited, highly-stylized mosaic of Greenspun’s legendary escapades.
Speaker: Filmmaker Scott Goldstein
by Ara Rubyan | Sep 5, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010, 1:00 PM
(German) 94 minutes
Max Minsky and Me
Max Minsky and Me is a charming coming of age comedy that will appeal to all ages. Nelly Sue Edelmeister, a skinny Bat Mitzvah candidate and nerdy future astronomer, living in Berlin, wants to be on the girls’ basketball team to meet her “prince charming.” Trading her academic skills for Max Minsky’s basketball prowess produces lots of ups-and-downs both on and off the court.
by Ara Rubyan | Sep 5, 2010
Dear Film Lover,
Everyone loves a good story well-told that also inspires us by helping find meaning in our own lives. With this in mind, we have put together the 5th annual Baton Rouge Jewish Film Festival, bringing to the public a series of films that inspire, inform, and entertain, and all reflecting, in some way, the long history and engaging culture of the Jewish experience.
This year, as before, the Festival highlights issues, traditions, challenges and characters that will resonate with a universal audience. In addition to comedy, drama, documentary, and short-format films, we’ve invited guests—this year, one of the filmmakers– to bring an added dimension to the program.
Thanks to audience feedback, we’ve received wonderful suggestions that helped us plan this year’s lineup of films. We believe you’ll find the 2011 Festival the best ever.
We’d like to express our appreciation to filmgoers who have made the Festival such a success in previous years. The Manship Theatre tells us that the Festival is one of the “hottest tickets” on their schedule. So, we look forward to seeing our old Film Festival friends again in January and welcoming new friends who won’t want to miss one the best film experiences in the region.
See you there!
Harvey Hoffman, for the
Baton Rouge Jewish Film Festival
by Ara Rubyan | Sep 5, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010, 3:30 PM
Three Short Films From Israel
Pesya’s Necklace follows Pesya Goldfarb, an 80-year-old survivor of the camps who accompanies her 17-year-old Israeli granddaughter on a school trip to Auschwitz. While in Poland, she is determined to find her parent’s home and uncover a golden necklace she and her sister hid on the day they were taken to Auschwitz. Pesya must also confront her secret, hidden for years. (Hebrew/English sub.) 35 minutes
A Jerusalem Tale: It is said that when a Jew is sad he cries; when he’s very sad, he sings; and when the pain is overwhelming, he dances. In this poignant film an elderly couple moves to Israel and faces a series of mishaps. (Hebrew/English sub.) 14 minutes
The Worst Company in the World: Love and humor are plentiful, but success is scarce in a small Tel Aviv insurance agency where nothing runs as it should. Perennially on the verge of bankruptcy, the failing agency is run by three middle-aged, divorced, and not particularly successful men. They may be highly intelligent, well-educated, warm and good-humored, but they have no inkling about running a business. This award-winning and refreshingly entertaining documentary offers an amusing behind-the-scenes look at the operations of the firm over one fiscal year, as the manager’s son – also the film’s director – joins this motley crew in a last-ditch attempt to save his father’s collapsing business. (Hebrew/English sub.) 50 minutes
by Ara Rubyan | Nov 18, 2009
For information, contact:
Ara Rubyan, Co-Chair, Baton Rouge Jewish Film Festival
