New York-based distributor First Run Features will release two Jewish-themes documentaries this month. Each one takes on a different, rarely explored aspect of Jewish culture. Here is more information on both upcoming releases.
"Kabbalah Me"
A film by Steven Bram
80 minutes, documentary, color, 2014
DVD Extras: Bonus Shorts (Oneness; Good & Evil in Kabbalah; Women in Kabbalah; Science & Kabbalah; Kabbalah Celebration: Meron; Meditation: Opening the Heart)
"Kabbalah Me" is a personal journey into the esoteric spiritual phenomenon known as Kabbalah. Throughout history, Kabbalah was studied by only the most holy Talmud scholars. The misinformation, innuendo and prohibition surrounding Kabbalah kept its wisdom from most Jews; many were even unaware of its existence.
In "Kabbalah Me," director Steven Bram embarks on a spiritual investigation that leads him to reunite with the Hasidic branch of his family and connect to the community of Judaic scholarship. Eventually his curiosity takes him on a pilgrimage to Israel, where he immerses himself in history and traditions of the Holy Land.
Along the way, leading authorities discuss the complex, mystical world of Kabbalah - its varying interpretations and the myriad paths of its rituals and lessons. Bram's new commitment to spirituality and religious observance draws skepticism from family and friends but ultimately leads to profound changes across all aspects of his life.
Some positive press reactions:
“A fascinating and inspiring story about a man's spiritual journey into the complex world of Jewish mysticism. But on another level, it is also a revelatory documentary about how faith and religious observance are marginalized in our society.” - Jewish Daily Forward
“Welcoming and intriguing." - The Village Voice
“Often fascinating, frequently moving and certainly worthy of a viewing.” - Jewish Week
"Sukkah City"
A film by Jason Hutt
67 minutes, documentary, color, 2013
DVD Extras: Bonus Shorts (Yeshiva Boys; Importance of Competitions; Submission Board Strategy) • Submission Board Gallery
DVD packaged in certified Green Forestry eco pack
When best-selling author Joshua Foer begans to build his first sukkah, a small hut that Jews build and dwell in every fall for the holiday of Sukkot, he wanted to move beyond the generic plywood boxes and canvas tents that have become the unimaginative status quo. He discovered that while the Bible outlines the basic parameters for what a sukkah should look like and how it should function, it leaves plenty of room for variation and interpretation. Foer thought, 'what if contemporary architects and designers were challenged to design and construct twelve radical sukkahs? What would they come up with?' And so was born the design competition known as Sukkah City in Union Square Park, in the heart of New York City.
Chronicling the competition, the film goes behind the scenes during construction, exhibition, and judging to provide an entertaining and inspiring portrait of the project's visionary architects and structures – an exciting, singular moment in the American Jewish experience.
Some positive press reactions:
“'Sukkah City' captures the excitement around an art installation in one of New York City's great public spaces.” - The Atlantic
“A remarkable architectural competition. It's amazing nobody thought of this before.”
- The New Yorker
“You'll smile. You'll chuckle. You'll be moved!” - The Forward...
"Kabbalah Me"
A film by Steven Bram
80 minutes, documentary, color, 2014
DVD Extras: Bonus Shorts (Oneness; Good & Evil in Kabbalah; Women in Kabbalah; Science & Kabbalah; Kabbalah Celebration: Meron; Meditation: Opening the Heart)
"Kabbalah Me" is a personal journey into the esoteric spiritual phenomenon known as Kabbalah. Throughout history, Kabbalah was studied by only the most holy Talmud scholars. The misinformation, innuendo and prohibition surrounding Kabbalah kept its wisdom from most Jews; many were even unaware of its existence.
In "Kabbalah Me," director Steven Bram embarks on a spiritual investigation that leads him to reunite with the Hasidic branch of his family and connect to the community of Judaic scholarship. Eventually his curiosity takes him on a pilgrimage to Israel, where he immerses himself in history and traditions of the Holy Land.
Along the way, leading authorities discuss the complex, mystical world of Kabbalah - its varying interpretations and the myriad paths of its rituals and lessons. Bram's new commitment to spirituality and religious observance draws skepticism from family and friends but ultimately leads to profound changes across all aspects of his life.
Some positive press reactions:
“A fascinating and inspiring story about a man's spiritual journey into the complex world of Jewish mysticism. But on another level, it is also a revelatory documentary about how faith and religious observance are marginalized in our society.” - Jewish Daily Forward
“Welcoming and intriguing." - The Village Voice
“Often fascinating, frequently moving and certainly worthy of a viewing.” - Jewish Week
"Sukkah City"
A film by Jason Hutt
67 minutes, documentary, color, 2013
DVD Extras: Bonus Shorts (Yeshiva Boys; Importance of Competitions; Submission Board Strategy) • Submission Board Gallery
DVD packaged in certified Green Forestry eco pack
When best-selling author Joshua Foer begans to build his first sukkah, a small hut that Jews build and dwell in every fall for the holiday of Sukkot, he wanted to move beyond the generic plywood boxes and canvas tents that have become the unimaginative status quo. He discovered that while the Bible outlines the basic parameters for what a sukkah should look like and how it should function, it leaves plenty of room for variation and interpretation. Foer thought, 'what if contemporary architects and designers were challenged to design and construct twelve radical sukkahs? What would they come up with?' And so was born the design competition known as Sukkah City in Union Square Park, in the heart of New York City.
Chronicling the competition, the film goes behind the scenes during construction, exhibition, and judging to provide an entertaining and inspiring portrait of the project's visionary architects and structures – an exciting, singular moment in the American Jewish experience.
Some positive press reactions:
“'Sukkah City' captures the excitement around an art installation in one of New York City's great public spaces.” - The Atlantic
“A remarkable architectural competition. It's amazing nobody thought of this before.”
- The New Yorker
“You'll smile. You'll chuckle. You'll be moved!” - The Forward...
- 3/17/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Olympic Dreams at Indiewire @ Hulu As the 2012 Summer Olympics begin, pitting the best of the best against one another, <i>Indiewire</i>'s latest curated <a href="http://www.hulu.com/documentaries" target="_blank">Documentaries page for Hulu</a> explores the dreams of hopeful athletes around the world, whether they'll ever ultimately have a shot at winning the gold or not. Watch all these sports docs for free now! Boxing has been an Olympic sport since the 1904 Summer games. Jason Hutt's <a href="http://www.hulu.com/watch/95978" target="_blank">"Orthodox Stance"</a> profiles 24-year-old Russian immigrant Dmitriy Salita, a professional boxer and devoutly religious Orthodox Jew. Putting the lie to jokes about the absence of Jewish pro athletes, Hutt follows the fighter over many years, as he prepares for his first professional title and balances training with...
- 7/29/2012
- by Basil Tsiokos
- Indiewire
Rosh Hashanah--the Jewish New Year--falls this week, so it's fitting that indieWIRE-curated selections on Hulu's Documentaries page offer a series of portraits of Jewish lives in the past and the present. An example of the diversity in modern Jewish identity is on display in Jason Hutt's "Orthodox Stance." The documentary profiles 24-year-old Russian immigrant Dmitriy Salita, a professional boxer and devoutly religious Orthodox Jew. Putting the lie to jokes about ...
- 9/29/2011
- Indiewire
Oxbow Lake Films
As is the case with so many recent documentaries, "Orthodox Stance" deals with a subject that, while it might have made for an intriguing segment on a television newsmagazine show, doesn't sustain itself over the course of a feature-length film.
This portrait of a professional boxer who also happens to be an Orthodox Jew has its interesting and evocative moments but lacks the compelling aspects necessary to make it stand out in the current theatrical glut. It is playing an exclusive theatrical engagement at New York's Cinema Village before expanding to other cities.
The filmmaker, Jason Hutt, tracked the career of Dmitriy Salita -- a Russian immigrant living in Brooklyn -- for several years. A likable and clearly religiously devout young man, Salita achieved significant success as a junior welterweight in the ring, and his personal story received enough media attention to garner him an invitation to a Hanukkah party at the White House.
The central dramatic element of the film is naturally the baby-faced Salita's efforts to reconcile his professional career with his religious observances. Thus, he refuses to fight on the Sabbath; he takes time out from his training to study the Torah; his solicitous manager cooks him kosher meals in his hotel rooms; and he's none too thrilled when one of his sponsors turns out to be a beer company.
That aspect aside, the film is a fairly standard observational depiction of a struggling fighter's life, culminating of course in a dramatic professional title bout and a knockout victory. Of course, it's not every fighter who's introduced to the crowd by Matisyahu, a reggae-singing Hasidic rapper.
As is the case with so many recent documentaries, "Orthodox Stance" deals with a subject that, while it might have made for an intriguing segment on a television newsmagazine show, doesn't sustain itself over the course of a feature-length film.
This portrait of a professional boxer who also happens to be an Orthodox Jew has its interesting and evocative moments but lacks the compelling aspects necessary to make it stand out in the current theatrical glut. It is playing an exclusive theatrical engagement at New York's Cinema Village before expanding to other cities.
The filmmaker, Jason Hutt, tracked the career of Dmitriy Salita -- a Russian immigrant living in Brooklyn -- for several years. A likable and clearly religiously devout young man, Salita achieved significant success as a junior welterweight in the ring, and his personal story received enough media attention to garner him an invitation to a Hanukkah party at the White House.
The central dramatic element of the film is naturally the baby-faced Salita's efforts to reconcile his professional career with his religious observances. Thus, he refuses to fight on the Sabbath; he takes time out from his training to study the Torah; his solicitous manager cooks him kosher meals in his hotel rooms; and he's none too thrilled when one of his sponsors turns out to be a beer company.
That aspect aside, the film is a fairly standard observational depiction of a struggling fighter's life, culminating of course in a dramatic professional title bout and a knockout victory. Of course, it's not every fighter who's introduced to the crowd by Matisyahu, a reggae-singing Hasidic rapper.
- 2/12/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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