Haven: Issue 5 (June 2024)

The PJFM monthly resource for upcoming news!

Table of Contents 3

Janet Planet Review

5

PJFM YouTube

6

Unapologetically Jewish

7

Erased Doc Feature

10

Jewish Families in Film

11

Ask the Staff

12

Summer at Kaiserman

13

Fall Fest Announcement

HAVEN | ISSUE 03

JANET PLANET: A Thoughtful Debut For a New Jewish Voice JANET PLANET, directed by Jewish playwright Annie Baker, stars Julianne Nicholson and Zoe Ziegler in a story that tackles themes of maternal bonds as the mother daughter duo has a rotating crew of characters staying in their rural Massachusetts home. Baker makes a simple story into a visual tour de force with a strong eye for framing and the best child performance so far this decade from Zoe Ziegler.

The thematic center of the movie is the motherdaughter bond between Nicholson’s Janet and Ziegler’s Lacy. The script, also written by director Annie Baker, creates an unflinching portrait of the complicated nature of single parenthood and how it can affect a child. The scenes where Janet and Lacy lay together in bed provide a great setting for the complex intimacy where the lines of how honest a parent should be with a child blur.

Ziegler’s construction of Lacy brought back memories of summers with my mother and sister, where the two would be attached at the hip to the point of separation anxiety. It was an incredibly well-calibrated performance, Ziegler brings a confused aura that only a child can convey where you do not understand why you are unhappy with the world you live in because it is all you know, and you just have to believe that it will get better.

“A visual tour de force” Nicholson is no slouch either, wearing the stress and confusion of someone who worries they are not creating a great life for their child or themselves as an expression of stressed contemplation. Her moments when talking with the few other adults in the movie open us up to the person she might have been without a child, creating tension around whether we believe this person can be a good parent or even a functional person. Her charisma shines through, making her still very likable and worth rooting for.

Baker may be a first-time film director, but her theater background allows her to understand both the baseline technical principles of filmmaking and emphasize what you can do with a camera that you cannot on a stage. Her keen eye for the center of the frame makes for a movie that, despite having limited action, is always visually engaging because the big character moments are always put center stage. The color palette of the film is beautiful, the rural Massachusetts setting is gorgeous, and the subtle shadows cast in every scene feel like the audience is watching someone flip through an old photo album.

If Baker would like to take a break from the stage, she would be a welcome addition to the Jewish film pantheon, even if this film has limited mentions of the character’s Jewishness (there are a few references, but they are subtle). Her artful approach to camerawork and consistent creation of well-rounded characters has me very excited for her follow-up.

Unapologetically Jewish Finalists

Your paragraph text

SPOTLIGHT DOC

ERASED: WW2'S HEROES OF COLOR Over 8 million people of color served in World War II, but if you opened a history textbook or watched a movie about any of the battles over the last eighty years, you would be hard pressed to find mention of those battalions.

16

Reenactment Footage from Erased: WW2's Heroes of Color Trailer

ERASED: WW2'S HEROES OF COLOR, a National Geographic docuseries now streaming in full on Disney Plus, is looking to make sure that changes.

The series, executive produced and narrated by actor Idris Elba, uses a mix of video footage and dramatizations to bring back to life the soldiers from all different ethnic backgrounds to have their stories told for the first time.

HAVEN | ISSUE 04

FIGHTING INJUSTICE THROUGH STORYTELLING Elba’s opening narration to the series also details the personal connection that set his involvement in the project in stone, stating “More than eight million people of color served with the allies. My grandfather was one of these men.”

Through this docuseries, millions

The bravery of these soldiers

Heritage and history is so

mentioned throughout the

important, and having a series

documentary is twofold. Not only

that highlights soldiers of color

were they laying their lives on the

who defended our homes and

line, but they faced an uphill

families brings me a sense of

battle throughout their service.

intersectional joy, that a celebration that has been long

American units were segregated,

overdue is getting brought to the

and even the best black soldiers

eyes of many.

could not obtain leadership positions at any level outside of

ERASED: WW2'S HEROES OF

their divided units. The Royal

COLOR is now streaming on

their ancestors told outside of

Indian Service Corps that

Disney Plus.

family gatherings, to viewers

represented Great Britain were

around the world.

forcibly made up of only Muslims

of families have the stories of

due to the politics of the time.

These heroes faced the horrors of war and discrimination at the same time and had to come home to the same injustices.

WATCH THE TRAILER ON YOUTUBE

ERASED: WW2'S HEROES OF COLOR

17

CATCHUP | ISSUE ONE

Digital Chutzpah Submissions

Jewish Families in Film SUMMER IS A WONDERFUL TIME TO SPEND TIME WITH YOUR LOVED ONES. THE KIDS HAVE OFF SCHOOL, THE SUN IS SHINING, AND ALL SORTS OF ACTIVITIES ARE ABOUND IN THE CITY. SOME DAYS, THOUGH, WHEN IT’S TOO HOT TO GO OUT OR YOU NEED SOMETHING TO TIDE YOU OVER ON THAT LONG PLANE RIDE TO YOUR VACATION DESTINATION, YOU JUST NEED TO WATCH A GREAT MOVIE WITH THE FAMILY. AND WHAT BETTER MOVIES TO WATCH WITH THE FAMILY THAN STORIES ABOUT OTHER JEWISH FAMILIES? HERE ARE SOME OF OUR FAVORITE JEWISH FAMILIES IN FILM.

The first feature film of terminally underappreciated director Tamara Jenkins featured the Abromowitzes, a Jewish family constantly bouncing from residence to residence run by 14-year-old Vivian, played by Natasha Lyonne. Though there is mountains of dysfunction among the members, including fresh out of rehab Rita and layabout salesman Murray, ultimately Vivian and her two brothers provide a beating heart at the center of a family that symbolizes the idea of perseverance.

As a creative myself, I found myself drawn to the story of the Orefices, a Jewish-Italian family who allow the power of imagination to push them forward even through the tragedies of the Holocaust. Guido, Dora, and young Giosue may be in the most intense and difficult of scenarios, but the partnership between Guido and Giosue makes for proof that the title is right, life is beautiful. Plus, Giosue gets a tank!

Avalon, the final film in Barry Levinson’s “Baltimore tetrology”, operates partially as an autobiography. The Krichinskys mirror Levinson’s family as they arrive in Baltimore as first-generation immigrants and attempt to tackle The American Dream. Though the Krichinskys often have pitfalls, they stick together through it all, making for a reminder that through finding our fellow human beings, we can get through any hardship.

ASK THE STAFF Matthew Bussy Beth Becker Dean Bruce Yae Straxkson

MOULIN ROUGE! We saw it in theaters and we were obsessed,

THE PRINCESS BRIDE! We can always agree to watch it again.

HOLES! It’s a THE WIZ! We good fit for the loved to dance and sing along. summer.

What’s your go-to movie to watch with your family?

SUMMER EVENTS FROM KAISERMAN JCC

At the end of the month, 6/30, is Kaiserman’s Shalom Summer concert and celebration! This FREE family friendly event features a concert from bluegrass/americana/folk band, Nefesh Mountain, as well as family friendly activities, lawn games, snacks and more.

The pool is also open for summer! Memberships are available for individuals, couples, and families to the lap and toddler pool. There are no residency requirements. The pool is easily accessible by transit and has parking. This year, Kaiserman has also brought back Hot Dog Tuesday nights at the pool. They also offer swim lessons at the pool which do not require a membership.

29

Kaiserman is expanding their preschool and opening a new Jewish Early Learning Center in King of Prussia this fall at Temple Brith Achim! This new school has extended hours (7:30am-5:30pm) and is year-long (no break for summer).

One of the other fun things includes the Gems group for older adults, The group is making field trips to the African American Museum and the Woodmere Museum this summer. The group is also running screenings of Oscar snubs with film historian Irv Slifkin on Wednesday afternoons.

INFORMATION

45 Haverford Rd. Wynnewood, PA 19096

Website Calendar HAVEN | ISSUE 04

PRESENTING SPONSORS Elaine Lindy Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History CHAI SOCIETY SPONSORS Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation The Lindy Family PLATINUM SPONSORS Phyllis and Howard Fischer DIAMOND SPONSORS Jack and Cindy Bienenfeld, The Henry and Helen Bienenfeld Foundation Mickey and Barbara Black Jacob Cohen and Sarah Waxman Steve and Betsy Filton Marcy Gringlas and Joel Greenberg, Seed the Dream Foundation Edward and Susan Hoffman Lisa Kabnick and John McFadden Amy and Richard Oller Harriet and Larry Weiss GOLD SPONSORS Susanna Lachs Adler and Dean Adler Jay W. Barnett Lobro Associates David and Nancy Colman Harris and Debra Devor Dr. Alexander and Andrea Ehrlich Debbie and Bob Fleischman Judith and Joel Golden Libby S. Harwitz and Burton Blender Julie and Richard Jaffe Cathy and Dan Kaufman Ellyn and Seth Lehr Larry and Cindy Rappoport Pam and Tony Schneider SILVER SPONSORS David and Hallee Adelman Mr. and Ms. Glenn Blumenfeld Michael Coleman and Ellen Singer Coleman Elaine and Jim Culbertson Sam and Gail Goldstein Mary and Stuart Kahn Rena Kopelman Carole Landis Foundation Susan and Jim Meyer Richard and Beth Probinsky Mary and Nathan Relles Lyn M. Ross Patricia Saddier-Dana Ellen Schwartz and Jeremy Siegel Susan Sherman, Independence Foundation Marty Tuzman and Eileen R. Heisman Tuzman

BRONZE SPONSORS Seyna and Larry Abel Anonymous Brinker, Simpson and Company c/o Cathy Seiler, CPA Sidney Cohen Deutsch Family Foundation Art and Lynne Ellis Arlene Fickler Adele Aron Greenspun Margie Honickman Susan and Leonard Klehr Robin Rifkin and Michael Silverman Lynn and Bruce Robins Francyn Sacks Frann Shore Francine Tabas Joseph Zuritsky RUBY SPONSORS (FALL FEST) Eileen Dwell and Chuck Steinberg Rosa and Alberto Esquenazi Bonnie Freundlich & Yuri Sergeyev Terri N. Gelberg Nancy and Gary Gordon Ruthie Levikoff Sheldon Liss Debra Malinics Stephen C. Richman, Markowitz & Richman Jordan Rosenberg Rebecca and Ed Schulman Patricia Siegel Rita and Bob Siegle Jerry Silverman Adam Stout Joan Tishgart FRIEND SPONSORS Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney HOSPITALITY SPONSORS Cooper Spirits Storybook Trips by Kevin MEDIA SPONSORS WHYY FUNDING PROVIDED BY: Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Philadelphia Cultural Fund

Lindy SpringFest and Digital Chutzpah 2024!

Sponsors DIRECTOR Arthur and Lisa Berkowitz Joseph M. Field and Marie H. Field Seth Goldstein CINEMATOGRAPHER Jacob Cohen and Sarah Waxman Jan Felman and Harvey Schwartz FRIEND Joseph M. Manko, Sr. CINEPHILE Sid Amster Penni and Mark Blaskey Sally and Stewart Eisenberg David Mink Patricia Siegel Rabbi Lynnda and Larry Targan FAN Norman and Suzanne Cohn Robert Elfant Arlene Goldman Jane Greenspan Fanny and Roger Korman Robert and Marlyn Vogel

Thank you for supporting the organization.