A Journey Through Jewish Film
Miami Festival Has Something for Everyone

By Jan Engoren

Michel Joelsas in The Year My Parents Went on Vacation, the opening night film for the Miami Jewish Film Festival

Readers of a certain age may remember the TV ads in the 1970s for Levy’s Jewish Rye Bread:  “You don’t have to be Jewish to love Levy’s Jewish Rye.” The same goes for the Miami Jewish Film Festival, which is sprinkled with a Latin flavor, mirroring Miami’s diverse population.

Ellen Wedner, the festival director says, “This year we set out on a journey to explore many powerful, spiritual and moral journeys, as well as humorous and nostalgic memoirs of growing up.” Starting last April, she personally handpicked each film that is playing in the festival.

In the spirit of “you don’t have to be Jewish,” the festival’s opening night film is a Brazilian film, The Year My Parents Went on Vacation, (O ano em que Meus Pais Saíram de Férias), playing at the Colony Theatre, and the second feature film by director Cao Hamburger. The film was chosen specifically to reach out to Miami’s Brazilian residents.

The film takes audiences on a coming-of-age journey about a 12-year-old Brazilian boy, Mauro, whose biggest desire is to see Team Brazil and Pelé win the 1970 World Cup match against Italy, but his life turns upside down when his Catholic mother and Jewish father are forced to flee the country and the military dictatorship that ruled Brazil from 1964-1985. As they “go on vacation,” they leave him with his grandfather who lives in a Jewish and Italian section of the city but who dies before Mauro arrives.  The Year My Parents Went on Vacation is Brazil’s entry for Best Foreign Film at this year’s Academy Awards and pays homage to man’s humanity.

Another coming-of-age film centered on the World Cup is the British film, Sixty-Six. This time it’s the United Kingdom in the 1966 World Cup Finals, and the 12-year-old English protagonist, Bernie Reubens, is awaiting his Bar Mitzvah on the same day that England makes it to the qualifying rounds.  The film stars some well-recognized names, including Helena Bonham Carter and Stephen Rea and is semi-autobiographical, based on the life of its director, Paul Weiland. 

In addition to these English and Brazilian films, there are many Argentinian films in the festival.  Argentina has a large Jewish population, mostly as a result of World War II, and an emerging film industry. 

Ellen Wedner, Miami Jewish Film Festival director…

This year, the sponsor of the festival, the Center for Advancement of Jewish Education (CAJE), has joined forces with the Buenos Aires Jewish Film Festival in a cultural exchange of films. Two of this year’s Argentinian entries are: Cara con Queso, a Jewish teenager’s comical exploration of his world, and Forging a Nation, a unique look at a family whose lives becomes a metaphor for the history of Argentina.

Those involved with the festival believe the screening of these South American films builds bridges and encourages connections between the Miami Jewish community, which includes many Argentinians, and the Jewish community of Buenos Aires and other cities in South America with Jewish populations.

 “We understand the immense power of film to open the mind and expand the soul,” says CAJE president Ellen Barocas.  “We use the lens of education as well as entertainment when choosing films for our festival, because movies open windows to worlds past and present that many of us will never personally experience.”

In addition to the South American entries, films will be screened from a variety of countries, including Israel, Russia, Mexico, Canada, United States, France and the United Kingdom. A total of 22 films will be shown over the nine-day festival.

During those nine days, the MJFF will explore themes of alienation, intolerance, and friendship, and examine religious, social and political realities. And, as with any long voyage, the end will inevitably arrive.

The journey finishes with the closing night film, Beaufort, based on the novel Im Yesh Gan Eden, by Israeli journalist Ron Leshem. Beaufort is one of the few overtly political films in the festival, chronicling the pullout of the Israeli army from Lebanon in 2000, and dealing with Israel’s socio-political situation.  The film, Israel’s official submission to the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Film, does not choose sides but attempts to show the emotional toll the war takes on the soldiers and details the end of 20 years of Israel’s military presence in southern Lebanon.

Besides the many films, the MJFF will present several educational outlets to enhance the audience’s film experience, including a panel discussion about the state of Israeli film, films from the New York Sephardic Jewish Film Festival, and a reading list of relevant books to accompany movie viewing, compiled in conjunction with Books & Books.  For a complete list of reading material, visit  caje-miami.org/mjff/ and click on 2007 MJFF Book List.

Sixty-Six, about a boy whose bar mitzvah coincides with the World Cup

“We have always been proud of the fact that ours is the only Jewish Film Festival in America that is sponsored by an educational agency,” says Barocas.

As with any good film festival, Wedner has chosen films for their ability to entertain, provoke and to leave an audience with a new perspective on life. 

“This is a unique opportunity for Miamians to see films not easily found elsewhere,” says Wedner.  “I am proud and happy to secure such great films for our Miami audience. The themes I’ve selected will resonate for us here in South Florida. Everyone who comes will have an amazing experience.”

The Miami Jewish Film Festival will be presented at the Regal and Colony Theatres in Miami Beach, the Sunrise Intracoastal in North Miami Beach, and the Cosford Cinema at the University of Miami, Coral Gables. For tickets, call 1-888-585-FILM. For a complete schedule of films, and educational forums, visit miamijewishfilmfestival.com.