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Who The Jew Are You?
Director: Alan Goldman, Canada, 2009, 50 minutes
World Premiere. Filmmaker in attendance.
When Alan Goldman’s son was born, he was not only faced with the decision of whether to circumcise him but also with the realization that Sacha was not actually Jewish. So begins a journey that asks, ‘What does it mean to be Jewish?’ Alan’s peregrinations take him from Vancouver to Orthodox communities in Crown Heights, New York, where the faithful debate points of scripture. From Jewish rappers to a lesbian couple who wants their adopted Chinese daughter to have a traditional Bat Mitzvah, Judaism means different things to different people. While some people maintain that ‘God-optional Judaism’ does not exist, others see this as a benefit: ‘That’s the point of being a Jew, you don’t have to believe in God.’
A charming guide, Alan endures everything from dressing up as Santa Claus for his son’s Christmas party, to being harangued by his family, even his grandfather, who declares himself an atheist after reading Sam Harris’s book The End of Faith. ‘I no longer believe in God,’ he says, ‘Poppycock.’
If Alan can figure out Judaism’s relevance in his own life, he can pass on this knowledge to help his son find his place in the Jewish world. Eventually, he uncovers a progressive, re-invigorated Judaism that embraces a multiplicity of people. With humour, warmth, and a generous spirit, Who The Jew Are You?travels full circle back to the love a father has for his son.
Alan Goldman is a producer, writer and director with extensive experience in news, documentary, commercials and video games. He began his career in radio and was part of the award-winning team that produced the five part national CBC Radio documentary series A Matter of Survival, hosted by David Suzuki. Moving to television, Goldman researched and produced for Venture, Shirley and for documentary production companies like Stornoway Productions of Toronto. He produced and directed All Day Breakfast, a documentary exploring the culture of Toronto’s diner restaurants. He then worked with the director Robert Duncan on Weird and Wonderful and The Funny Side of Death, broadcast nationally on CBC’s Witness program. His semi-autobiographical film Who The Jew Are You? commissioned by OMNI Television will premiere at the DOXA Festival.
PRECEDED BY
Mémére Métisse
Janelle Wookey, Canada, 2008, 30 minutes
For over sixty years, Janelle Wookey’s grandmother, or Mémére, Cecile St. Amant has been keeping a deep dark secret; she is Métis. A young filmmaker and host of a program on the Aboriginal People’s Television Network, Janelle sets out to understand her Mémére’s denial. She playfully plots her mission to open her Mémére’s eyes to the richness of their heritage and the joy of their culture. Over four months, the mischievous Janelle gave her granny no peace, using the closeness they share to bring her grandmother face to face with her own contradictions.
Community Partner
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