2017 Film Festival Schedule
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Summer Movies at the J
Sunday, July 16
$13 for adults; $8 for students (age 16 and younger)
USA
English
Director: Ema Ryan Yamazaki
Documentary: 77 Minutes
The birth of the world’s most popular primate
Narrated by Sam Waterston, this film chronicles the story of George’s creators, Hans and Margret Rey. From fleeing the Nazis on self-made bicycles to encounters with exotic animals in Brazil, the Reys lived lives of adventure that are reflected in the pages of the popular children’s book series, first created 75 years ago. The film brilliantly interweaves archival footage and interviews with them, their friends and experts, along with animated sequences in a style inspired by the world of Curious George.
It is very exciting that the St. Louis Jewish Film Festival will have the St. Louis Premiere of this wonderful new documentary film about Curious George’s creators. The first 100 households will also receive a copy of a Curious George book thanks to the generosity of Ready Readers.
Sponsored by: Lee Bohm, Fox Family Foundation
Introduction: Lisa Greening, Executive Director Ready Readers
Sunday, August 20
$13 for adults; $8 for students (age 16 and younger)
Israel
English and Hebrew/Russian/Latvian with English Subtitles
Director: Anat Zalmanson-Kuznetsov
Documentary: 62 minutes
They cracked the Iron Curtain
Leningrad, 1970. A group of young Jewish dissidents plots to hijack an empty small passenger plane and escape from the USSR. Caught by the KGB a few steps from boarding, they were sentenced to years in the gulag, with two sentenced to death. Forty-five years later, through a collage of intimate interviews, rare archival footage, and reenactment, the filmmaker reveals the compelling story! Leaders of the group were considered “heroes” in the West but “terrorists” in the Soviet Union.
Introduction: Barry Rosenberg, Professor of Practice, Washington University, former CEO of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis
For additional information on becoming a member of the Jewish Film Society, call Zelda Sparks at 314-442-3169. An individual membership is $36, couples $54 and $18 for students.