Shoelaces and Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas

Showings

Mary D. Fisher Theatre Sun, Nov 4, 2018 3:30 PM
Film Info
Event Type:Jewish Film Festival Double Feature
Release Year:2018
Run Time:2 hours, 22 minutes total program

Description


"Shoelaces" tells the story of a complicated and touching relationship between an aging father, Ruben (60), and his special-needs, abandoned son, Gabe (35).  Reuben's kidneys are failing.  Gadi wants to donate one of his own to help save his father's life. He feels he finally has the chance to do something meaningful; to become a man and stand on his own. However, the transplant committee objects. Gadi is furious with the committee's decision and sets out to fight for his rights. Through the film's portrayal of a relationship full of love and rejection, it manages to shed some light on institutional rules, and questions the importance of human life, human connection. Is life even possible without either one of them? (Israel, 2018, 90 minutes)



“Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas” is an offbeat, irreverent musical documentary that depicts Christmas day for many American Jews in the 40s, 50s, and even today. It tells the story of Jewish songwriters, including Irving Berlin, Mel Tormé, Jay Livingston, Ray Evans, Gloria Shayne Baker and Johnny Marks, who wrote the soundtrack to Christianity’s most musical holiday. It’s an amazing tale of immigrant outsiders who became irreplaceable players in pop culture’s mainstream – a generation of songwriters who found in Christmas the perfect holiday in which to imagine a better world, and for at least one day a year, make us believe. (Canada, 2017, 52 minutes)