Unveiling History, Art and Resistance at the 34th New York Jewish Film Festival – BRAZILIAN PRESS // O maior jornal brasileiro fora do Brasil
By Roger Costa
THE TRUE STORY OF TAMARA DE LEMPICKA & THE ART OF SURVIVAL
Narrated by Anjelica Huston, this gorgeous documentary digs deep in the life of renowned Polish painter Tamara De Lempicka and is marvelously punctuated by her amazingly bold artworks. Director Julie Rubio seductively captures the essence of the ahead-of-her-time bisexual artist, her early painting instructions, the spoiled childhood, her inspirational trip to Italy with her grandmother, her abusive marriage and mostly how she was able to recreate herself and survive during harsh political times, including the rise of Fascism in the 1940’s. Gathering accurate and insightful testimonies from family members, friends and admirers, including experts in the artworld, collectors and curators, Rubio crafts an enigmatic and tender look at one of the most revolutionary female artists of the 20th century.
(Screens Tuesday, January 28. Director in person.)
AIN’T NO BACK TO A MERRY-GO-ROUND
Featuring narration by Mandy Patinkin, Jeffrey Wright, and Dominique Thorne, among others, director-producer Ilana Trachtman’s alarming doc tracks a very important moment in the Civil Rights Movement that proves the power of collaborative political actions. Taking us back to the conflicts in 1960, where five Howard University students perched on a merry-go-round in Maryland’s Glen Echo Amusement Park and refused to leave, it shows how the area had been segregated since the beginning of the 20th century and its Black residents demanded to visit it like everyone else. The resistance actions gained national attention, as they were joined by members of a Jewish community, sparkling controversy and division in the area. An essential and timely piece of history that reminds us the importance of empathy.
(Screens Wednesday, January 29. Director in person.)
LOST CITY
A scandalous recount on the greedy Amsterdam’s transportation system that deported over 48,000 Jews to their death, including Anne Frank, Dutch filmmaker Willy Lindwer gathers deeply emotional testimonies from survivors, exposing how capitalism can destroy one’s principles and humanitarian values. Looking at the city’s tram system, its bureacracy and history, the film exposes with revealing details and accuracy, how the company profited from the Germany-orders and the personal wounds that came as a result.
(Screens Tuesday, January 21. Director in person.)
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS ALSO SCREENING AT NYJFF:
NEITHER DAY NOR NIGHT is a meditation on faith and family values directed by Jerusalem-born filmmaker Pinhas Veuillet and centers around a conflict between the patriarch of a French Sephardic family and the Ashkenazi headmaster at his son’s school.
The shocking and intense OF DOGS AND MEN follows a teen girl in search of her lost dog amidst the tension and destruction left by the Hamas’ October 7 attacks.
A vibrant and heartfelt mother/son reconciliation dramedy, THIS IS MY MOTHER brings an unforgettable performance by Agnès Jaoui.
BLIND AT HEART is a provocative, sensual and ambiguous melodrama, anchored by a fascinating leading performance by Mala Emde.
In the romantic bipioc THE GLORY OF LIFE, filmmakers Georg Maas and Judith Kaufmann, masterly introduces the experiences of novelist Franz Kafka and Dora Diamant, an influential Polish Jewish woman he meets on holiday at the Baltic Sea.
(Presented by Film at Lincoln Center and The Jewish Museum, the New York Jewish Film Festival 2025 runs through January 29 at Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center. Go to https://www.filmlinc.org/festivals/new-york-jewish-film-festival/#films for details)
