arts & life film

Bulgarian Rhapsody

FILM FEST SCHEDULE

The 18th-annual Lenore Marwil It’s Chai Time! Jewish Film Festival takes place The JCC’s Lenore Marwil Jewish Film Festival May 8-19 at the Berman Center celebrates its 18th birthday with a collection for the Performing Arts at the of diverse films — including a delicious look West Bloomfield JCC. Select films at . will also be shown at the Flint Institute of Arts at 7 p.m. only. Elizabeth Applebaum | Special to the Jewish News For information and to purchase

he crust of the (Yemenite Shabbat bread) is a deep, tickets, call (248) 661-1900 or visit warm brown, promising to be perfectly crisp and flaky, little T layers of crunchy snowflakes. Inside, the bread is soft and airy, jccdet.org/filmfest. a golden pillow. The fresh herring, prepared according to a recipe from 16th-century Holland, sits on a creamy yellow aioli-dashi topped with pickled onions, the color of rose petals. A cherry-tomato salad with bright parsley, covered with sparkling SUNDAY, MAY 8 drops of olive oil, waits ready to be immersed in a rich and smooth 2 p.m. Deli Man The story of Ziggy hummus. Gruber, Jewish culture and great deli Is your mouth watering yet? Wait until you see In Search of Israeli food. Cuisine, a new documentary from Academy Award-nominated direc- 8 p.m. Dough A kosher bakery owner tor Roger Sherman and one of 30 films in the Jewish Community finds help from a Muslim apprentice who Center of Metropolitan Detroit’s annual Lenore Marwil Jewish Film provides a surprising ingredient for suc- Festival, May 8-19. The film, to be shown Monday, May 9, will be pre- cess. (Flint: 5/19) ceded by a strolling kosher dinner reception, for patrons, featuring the food of famed restaurateur Michael Solomonov, who serves as guide MONDAY, MAY 9 throughout the film. 2 p.m. Cafe Nagler – Sneak Preview! In Search of Israeli Cuisine is the proverbial feast for the eyes: one A documentary about a magical Berlin tasty meal after another prepared by the finest restaurateurs and home cafe, memories and family. chefs, all reflecting the diverse (by some estimates more than 150) 5 p.m. Phoenix A thriller about a backgrounds and styles that can be found in the country. TOP: Sabra fruit, In Search of Israeli Cuisine Holocaust survivor who confronts the Sherman, who will be a guest speaker at the May 9 showing, says he CENTER: Roger Sherman, director of In Search of Israeli man who may have betrayed her. loves to make films about people who “are passionate about whatever Cuisine, will speak at the Patron Event. BOTTOM: Chefs continued on page 38 they’re doing — and then communicate that message to the audience.” Michael Solomonov and Erez Komarovsky continued on page 38

April 21 • 2016 37 arts & life film

Belle and Sebastian Chagall-Malevich continued from page 37

He also hopes to change the That’s why I make films and why the people who have immigrated and developing a seedless lemon. As to the guide, a mutual world. I made this one.”) from around the world, bringing “Going to for me that friend introduced the film- His Don’t Divorce the Children, Sherman also set out to make a with them their diverse cooking first time was an epiphany,” maker and the restaurateur when about the effects of divorce on film that has nothing to do with traditions, Israel has some of the Sherman says. And he knew he Sherman was dining at Michael children and told from their politics and war, but instead tells best and most delectable food in had the makings of “an ideal Solomonov’s restaurant in point of view, became mandatory a story that no one knows. the world. film.” Philadelphia. viewing in many family courts But first, he had to be talked “The street food is delicious, But two ingredients were miss- The meal began with hummus and won a Peabody Award. into going to Israel. the bread is as good as anything ing: A guide to host the film — yes, you’ve had hummus, but With In Search of Israeli Sherman is friends with cook- you’ll find in Paris,” Sherman (“Because I wanted to follow not like this, Sherman says. Cuisine, produced through book author Joan Nathan, who says. Restaurants are open at all someone,” he explains. “I didn’t Then came a series of salads, Sherman’s Florentine Films, he invited him on a food trip to the hours of the night — with wait- just want a series of scenes”) and including one with beets. “And reflects on the words of many country. He wasn’t interested. ing lines. He tasted foods he’d financing. you’ve had good beets,” Sherman chefs: “You can’t be my enemy But she insisted, and eventually never even imagined existed, like It takes a lot of money to make says. “But these were remark- when sitting at my table.” (A Sherman gave in: “She practically bitter almonds, and drank an a documentary, and Sherman able.” member of the Israeli film crew dragged me there,” he admits. impossibly tasty drink of fresh was responsible for securing Then out came the chef him- did not want to participate in He was immediately amazed pomegranate and orange juices. most of it himself. He raised self. Michael Solomonov was a scene involving a Muslim by the food. He learned that the cherry funds, he put in most of his own born in Israel and raised in family lunch, he notes; “I don’t “Israel is a tiny country with a tomato was invented in Israel, savings and “Kickstarter got us to Pittsburgh. He’s a James Beard think he’d ever been inside a different microclimate every 10 that the country is the world’s the finish line.” (He’s still looking award-winning chef and the Palestinian home. Afterward, he miles,” he says. Mountains with largest exporter of kiwis and that for financial backing, though, so co-author of Zahav: A World thanked us and a year later he snow and then, just a drive away, Israel is growing things “that he can have his film shown on of Israeli Cooking, which he said the film changed his life. deserts. Between the land and would seem to be impossible” PBS throughout the country.) co-wrote with business partner

continued from page 37 Black September hijacking. attack from Gaza, uses music to the Nazis. MONDAY, MAY 16 5 p.m. Rabin in His Own cope with life. (Flint: 5/18) 2 p.m. Imber’s Left Hand A 8 p.m. In Search of Israeli Words The late prime minister’s 6:30 p.m. Special Event SUNDAY, MAY 15 documentary about artist Jon Cuisine (see previous page). life, using archival footage, pri- screening of Deli Man at the Noon Raise the Roof Imber, who continued to paint Talk-back with Roger Sherman vate letters and home films. Hygrade Deli (640 Michigan Reconstructing the Gwozdziec despite his ALS. (Flint: 4/26) follows the film. (Flint: 5/15) 8 p.m. 10% My Child A Ave., Detroit). Tickets are $10 Synagogue of Poland. 5 p.m. Once in a Lifetime A young boyfriend, a divorced and include food, followed 2 p.m. Belle & Sebastian A teacher in the inner city encour- TUESDAY, MAY 10 mom, a jealous father and a pre- by film screening at 7 p.m. boy and his dog help resistance ages her students to enter a con- 2 p.m. Morgenthau A reveal- cocious little girl form a family. Presented by Detroit City Moishe members and Jewish refugees. test focusing on the Holocaust. ing look at one of this country’s Talk-back with Rabbi Tamara House and Repair the World. For 5 p.m. Gett: The Trial of Talk-back with Rabbi Josh most influential families. Kolton follows the film. tickets: werepair.org/detroit Viviane Amsalem A woman Bennett follows the film. 8 p.m. The Prime Ministers: 8 p.m. A Borrowed Identity must battle Israeli courts and 8 p.m. Apples from the Soldiers and Peacemakers An THURSDAY, MAY 12 A Palestinian boy moves in with rabbis to secure a divorce. Desert A woman, raised in an insider’s look at Yitzhak Rabin 2 p.m. The Polgar Variant a Jewish friend, with unimagi- Talk-back with Rabbi Aaron Orthodox home, seeks her own and Menachem Begin. Three girls are raised from birth nable consequences. Bergman follows the film. identity. (Flint: 5/17) to be chess masters. 8 p.m. The Farewell Party Flint Only: Rosenwald The WEDNESDAY, MAY 11 5 p.m. Rock in the Red Zone FRIDAY, MAY 13 Friends ask a resident at a retire- story of the former president of 2 p.m. Sabena Hijacking: My The surprising way residents of Noon Bulgarian Rhapsody ment home to build a suicide Sears. Version A retelling of the 1972 Sderot, a town constantly under Three teens confront life under machine.

38 April 21 • 2016 Deli Man

Steven Cook and has become a New 19) and Apples from the Desert (8 p.m. York Times bestseller. He’s also “able Monday, May 16). to relate to people in a unique way,” The Kind Words is the story of Sherman says. three siblings who learn, upon their Sherman spoke with Solomonov mother’s death, that the man who and he ate and he ate, one dish after raised them isn’t their biological father. another — each was “amazing.” This quirky collection of siblings (one Finally, Sherman turned to his wife. is estranged from her husband, one “This,” he said, “is my guy.” is bisexual, one is religious) set off to The perfect chef/guide, a brilliant learn the truth of their parentage. filmmaker, a tour of Israel like nothing Apples from the Desert focuses on else — and one caveat. a young woman, Rebecca, the only In Search of Israeli Cuisine includes daughter of an Orthodox Sephardic seemingly endless images of mouth- family. When her father arranges watering, delectable dishes. So, her marriage with a widower with Sherman warns: “Don’t come hungry.” five children, Rebecca runs away. Ultimately, the family reunites for a ALSO HIGHLY moment of truth, forcing them all to RECOMMENDED … confront their beliefs. * Eric Lumberg, chair of the Film Festival, also gives top marks to The Kind Words (8 p.m. Thursday, May

TUESDAY, MAY 17 lives to save Jews during W WII. 2 p.m. Tuviansky The true story Talk-back with filmmaker Oren of an Israeli officer falsely accused of Jacoby follows the film. treason. 8 p.m. Mr. Kaplan A resident of 5 p.m. Manpower Four men Uruguay becomes convinced his address questions of identity, family neighbor is a Nazi. and exile. 8 p.m. The Last Mentsch A survi- THURSDAY, MAY 19 vor who abandons his Jewish identity 2 p.m. Chagall-Malevich Two art- rethinks his life. ists, professional rivalries, a woman and a revolution. WEDNESDAY, MAY 18 5 p.m. The Midnight Orchestra 2 p.m. To Life! A survivor/cabaret A man travels to Casablanca in an singer forms a bond with a young effort to grant his father’s dying wish. man with secrets. 8 p.m. The Kind Words Three sib- 5 p.m. My Italian Secret: The lings go in search of their identity. * Forgotten Heroes The story of the many brave Italians, including sports hero Gino Bartali, who risked their

April 21 • 2016 39