cinema: Kinoteka, PKiN Defilad 1 Place, Warsaw

Yentl
Yentl
Yentl
dir. Barbra Streisand
USA, 1983 - 2009, 132'

Dramatization of "Yentl, the Yeshiva Boy," by Isaac Bashevis Singer (1902-1991); originally published in Yiddish c. 1960, then in English c. 1983. The story: In an Ashkenazic shtetl in Poland, Yentl Mendel is the boyishly klutzy daughter and only child of long widowed Rebbe ("Talmud Teacher") Mendel, who teaches Talmud (a codification of Jewish Law) to local boys - and to Yentl, but secretly because girls were not allowed to learn the law in those days. When her father dies, Yentl is all alone in the world. She takes the momentous decision to leave the village and - disguised as a boy and calling herself by the name of her late brother, Anshel - seeks and gets admitted to a Yeshiva, to study the texts, traditions, subtleties and complexities of Torah, Talmud, etc. She befriends Avigdor who is engaged to Haddas, but her family discovers his brother committed suicide so they call off the wedding (in case Avigdor possesses the same madness). Anshel then finds "him"-self in the awkward position of being called into service as substitute bridegroom, so that the wedding can go ahead and Haddas will have a husband. It is a marriage that never gets consummated - apart from the more obvious reasons, because Haddas still wants Avigdor (though she eventually falls in love with Yentl, too). After numerous complications (including Avidor and Yentl falling in love with each other, briefly, after she reveals her secret to him, along with her bosom), the film ends with everybody getting what they always wanted - Haddas and Avigdor to live happily ever after with each other, while Anshel, now Yentl once again, goes off to America to pursue her dream of serious study in Yeshiva, where she will be able to study without needing to hide her identity as a woman. Written by Micheal McLoughlin

Academy Award for the Best Music, Golden Globe for the Best Director and the Best Motion Picture comedy/Drama

cinema: Kinoteka, PKiN Defilad 1 Place, Warsaw

Agnieszka Holland
Agnieszka Holland
Agnieszka Holland
dir. Wieslaw Dabrowski
Poland, 2008, 57'

A documentary offering an insider's view into the life and films of Agnieszka Holland. Interviews with her family, friends, associates and the filmmaker herself seem to be of crucial importance to the picture.

cinema: Kinoteka, PKiN Defilad 1 Place, Warsaw

Black or White
Czarne albo białe
Czarne albo białe
dir. Adam Stobnicki
Poland, 30'

Documentary portrait of a man, who is discovering the roots of his father and tragic past of his family.

Theater: Jewish Historical Institute, ul. Tlomackie17 , Warszawa

TOPICS: Palestine, cinema, Jenin, passion, film, art, free time, Islamic leader, Mufti of Jenin City

Kino JENIN. Częsć II
Cinema Jenin. Part II
dir. Marcus Vetter
Germany; 2009; 20`

Presentation of the CINEMA JENIN project in Jenin City, Palestine. The rebuilding of cinema, club for youth people, to give chance to present films (not only bollywood), but European and world acclaimed productions. Warsaw Jewish Film Festival is cofounder of the international Association CINEMA JENIN. The project is supported by German Government.