Please join our discussion on Zoom, Saturday Evening, March 4 at 7:00 PM!
We continue to discuss powerful movies that explore Jewish identity, interfaith relationships, and the challenges of acceptance. We look at films about friends, co-workers, family, and life partners. Films portray very different images (and stereotypes) of gentiles, assimilation, and the importance of Jewish identity.
March film: The Jazz Singer (1980)
The Jazz Singer is the title of several films released between 1927 and 1980, with roots in a 1925 Broadway play based on Samson Raphaelson’s short story "The Day of Atonement". The 1927 film starring Al Jolson is notable for being the first feature-length motion picture with talking sequences. While the original film is controversial by today’s standards, https://tubitv.com/movies/711042/the-jazz-singer?start=true, it’s worth checking out the first 13 minutes for the buildup to a totally authentic Kol Nidre service!
IMPORTANT: Watch this film on your own before our meeting.
THE JAZZ SINGER
(1980) 1 hour, 55 minutes
Recording star Neil Diamond made his movie debut in The Jazz Singer, the 1980's version of the Al Jolson classic, as a fifth-generation cantor who struggles to find expression through his own songs in the highly competitive world of popular music. He is opposed by his tradition-bound father, portrayed by Laurence Olivier, who is convinced that his son is betraying his birthright by striking out on his own. Lucie Arnaz also heads the cast as a gutsy manager who falls in love first with the man's work, then with the man himself. Catlin Adams stars as the tradition-bound wife who doesn't understand her husband's desire to leave the safe community provided by the synagogue.
Rent it for as little as $1.99 on Amazon, Google Play, Youtube
There is also a free option to see this film in low quality on Youtube (In 3 parts, NOT RECOMMENDED)
https://youtu.be/4uePjWJNQ60?t=1, https://youtu.be/jNV2OX1mJ1I?t=1, https://youtu.be/fe0vMXSK2vo?t=1
Our club meetings take place on Zoom, with details announced before each meeting
7pm Saturday night – March 4