Jews on Film: Exploring Jewish Stories & Themes in Cinema

By: Daniel Zana & Harry Ottensoser
  • Summary

  • Daniel Zana & Harry Ottensoser discuss films of all types to investigate what truly makes a film Jewish. Covering everything from Fiddler on the Roof to Uncut Gems, they finish each episode by ranking the film’s production, content, and themes on a scale of 1 to 5 Jewish stars. Listen each week to find out!

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Episodes
  • Documentary or Satire? Decoding Albert Brooks' "Real Life" with Eddie Schmidt" | Jews on Film
    Aug 22 2024

    Harry and Daniel welcome acclaimed director Eddie Schmidt to the pod to discuss Albert Brooks’ pioneering meta-documentary “Real Life,” released in 1979.

    Join them as they track the film’s exploration of truth and reality, and Brooks’ repeated meddling in the “reality” of his subjects. They then consider the different modes of performance in the film, and discuss how a God-fearing Jew is uniquely equipped to survive in an overly-observed world. Finally, they discuss the shlemiel and shlimazel archetypes and debate which each of the characters represents in the film. As always, they rank the film's "Jewishness" in terms of its cast & crew, content, and themes.

    Stick around for the end of the podcast to hear a little bit more about Eddie‘s latest project “Good One: A Show About Jokes" and some of the parallels to "Real Life" as well as how he set out capturing Mike Birbiglia’s process in creating a special.


    Real Life Trailer

    Real Life on IMDb


    Eddie's Links

    Eddie Schmidt on Instagram

    Good One: A Show About Jokes


    Connect with Jews on Film online:

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    Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/

    Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpod

    YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilm

    TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod

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    1 hr and 20 mins
  • Jewish Themes in 'X-Men: First Class' – A Deep Dive with Yacov Freedman | Jews on Film
    Aug 8 2024

    In this electrifying episode of Jews on Film, Daniel and Harry are thrilled to be joined by Yacov Freedman, Sr. Producer of TCM's acclaimed series The Plot Thickens. Together, they dive into the dazzling world of 2011's X-Men: First Class, directed by Matthew Vaughn. 🦸‍♂️💥

    This action-packed discussion covers everything from Magneto's poignant backstory as a Holocaust survivor to the X-Men's historical role as stand-ins for marginalized members of the Jewish, LGBTQ+, and Black communities .

    📽️✨ As they unpack the film's historical influences and character dynamics, you'll also hear Harry's heartfelt confession of his admiration for Michael Fassbender.

    Don't miss this opportunity to explore the superhero saga's deeper meanings and its cultural impact! 🌟🦹‍♀️


    X-Men First Class on Trailer

    X-Men First Class on IMDb


    Yacov's Links

    The Plot Thickens on Apple Podcasts

    Yacov Freedman on Twitter


    Connect with Jews on Film online:

    Jews on Film Merch - https://jews-on-film.printify.me/products

    Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/

    Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpod

    YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilm

    TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod

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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • BONUS: The Nightingale of Iran Episode One - The Time Machine
    Jul 30 2024

    Daniel and Harry had Danielle Dardashti on last week to discuss the film Persepolis, and this week they are sharing the first episode of Danielle's series, "The Nightingale of Iran", enjoy!

    ____________________________

    Sisters Danielle and Galeet Dardashti grew up in a Jewish American family band: The Dardashti Family. They sang international folk music in 12 languages – English, Hebrew, Yiddish, Ladino, Greek, Spanish, French, Japanese and more – but never any songs in Persian. This seems odd to them since both their father and grandfather were famous Iranian singers during the “Golden Age” for Jews in Iran, before the Islamic Revolution. Danielle and Galeet make a discovery that takes them back in time, and helps them find answers to their questions about why their family left Iran and abandoned their Iranian identity.


    Co-creators / Co-executive producers - Danielle Dardashti and Galeet Dardashti

    The Nightingale of Iran - nightingaleofiran.com

    Presented by The Jewish Telegraphic Agency, a publication of 70 Faces Media

    Host - Danielle Dardashti

    Writer / Director / Senior Producer - Danielle Dardashti

    Producer / Musical Director / Subject Matter Expert - Galeet Dardashti

    Audio Editors / Sound Designers - Rebecca Seidel and Zachary Goldberg

    Story Editor - Rider Alsop

    Story Consultant - Asal Ehsanipour


    Composer of Theme Song - Galeet Dardashti: “Melekh” from her album Monajat, featuring Younes Dardashti (with Shanir Blumenkranz, Max ZT, Zafer Tawil, Philip Mayer)


    In Episode 1, The Time Machine, you heard our conversations with: Farid and Sheila Dardashti, Shahla Javdan, Homa Sarshar, Lili Keypour, and Nahid Pirnazar.


    Thank you to our sponsors:


    -Jewish Writers’ Initiative Digital Storytellers Lab / Maimonides Fund

    -Common Era

    -Younes and Soraya Nazarian Family Foundation

    -The Himan Brown Charitable Trust

    -UCLA Mickey Katz Endowed Chair in Jewish Music

    -Be’chol Lashon (fiscal sponsor)


    Intro credits read by: Michelle Dardashti

    Cover art design: Ghulam Nabi

    Assistants: Courtney Cunningham & Jessica DeWeese

    Marketing / PR: Tink

    Distributed by PRX, the Public Media Exchange


    Connect with Jews on Film online:

    Jews on Film Merch - https://jews-on-film.printify.me/products

    Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/

    Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpod

    YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilm

    TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod

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    35 mins

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