Date: November, 27. – 1 December, 1. 2019
Screenings: Művész Cinema – District, VI., 30 Teréz Blvd. and Puskin Cinema – District, V., 18. Kossuth Lajos Street.
The festival takes place in vibrant downtown Budapest, enabling visitors to explore at the same time the city’s Jewish heritage, as well as further cultural gigs and have a taste of traditional Hungarian culinary delights.
With a broad line-up of the latest movies from around the world depicting today’s Jewish culture and heritage, Budapest Jewish and Israeli Film Festival is the largest event of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe. This year’s program features a fresh selection of recent pictures from the United States, Israel, Germany, Mexico, France, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary.
The selection of recent motion pictures from around the world. The 14 film screenings will take place across multiple Budapest art-house cinemas to showcase contemporary Jewish culture.
Promise at Dawn (Original title: La promesse de l’aube) – France, 2017. Director: Eric Barbie – Language French … From his childhood in Poland to his adolescence in Nice to his years as a student in Paris and his tough training as a pilot during World War II, this tragi-comedy tells the romantic story. Puskin Cinema – November, 28. and 29. – 7 p.m. December, 2. – 8 p.m.
Flawless (Original title: HaNeshef) – Israel (2018) Directors: Tal Granit, Sharon Maymon (2018). Language Hebrew … Three teenagers from Jerusalem sell their kidneys to pay for cosmetic surgery and prom dresses. As a secret uncovers they realize nothing is as it. Puskin Cinema – November, 29. – 7.30 p.m. and Művész Cinema – December, 2. – 8.p.m.
My Polish Honeymoon (Original title: Lune de miel) – France (2018) – Director: Élise Otzenberger – Language French with English subtitles. … Anna and Adam, a young couple from Paris with Polish Jewish origins, leave for the first time of their lives in Poland. They were invited to commemorate the seventy-fifth anniversary of the destruction of the birth village community of Adam’s grandfather. Puskin Cinema – November, 30. – 7.30 p.m. and Művész Cinema December, 1. – 7.30 p.m.
Driver (Original title: Driver) – Israel (2017) Language: Hebrew – Director: Yehonatan Indursky … A “Driver” in the oltra orthodox community takes his daughter on his nightly journey, exposing her to the more questionable members of this pious society in the dark alleys of Bnei Barak they each find, even if for a short moment, their lost childhoods. Puskin Cinema – November, 30. – 7 p.m. and December, 2. 3.30 p.m.
The Interpreter (Original title: Tlmočník) – Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, (2018) Language: German, Slovak – Director: Martin Sulík…The 80-year-old Ali Ungar comes across a book by a former SS officer describing his wartime activities in Slovakia. He realises his parents were executed by him. He sets out to take revenge but finds instead his 70-year-old son, Georg, a retired teacher. Georg, who had avoided his father all his life. Művész Cinema – December, 1. – 3.15 p.m. and Puskin Cinema – December, 2. – 5.30 p.m.
Fig Tree (Original title: Fig Tree) – Israel, France, Ethiopia (2018) Language: Amharic, Hebrew – Director: Aalam-Warqe Davidian…The 16 year old Jewish Mina, is trying to navigate between a surreal routine dictated by the civil war in Ethiopia and her last days of youth with her Christian boyfriend Eli. When she discovers that her family is planning to immigrate to Israel and escape the war. Művész Cinema -December, 1. – 5.30 p.m. and Puskin Cinema – December, 2. – 7 p.m.
Leona (Original title: Leona) – Mexico (2018) Language: Spanish – Director: Isaac Cherem…A young Jewish woman from Mexico City finds herself torn between her family and her forbidden love with a non-Jewish man. Művész Cinema – November, 30. 5.30 p.m. and Puskin Cinema – December, 1. 3.30 p.m.
Untogether (Original title: Untogether) USA (2018) Language: English with Hungarian subtitles – Director: Emma Forrest…Andrea is a recently sober writer whose career has stalled since she published her debut novel several years ago. Puskin Cinema – November, 30. – 5.30 p.m. and December, 1. – 7 p.m.
Tel Aviv on Fire (Original title: Tel Aviv on Fire) – Israel, Germany, Belgium, (2018) – Languages: Hebrew, Arabic – Director: Sameh Zoabi…Salam, an inexperienced young Palestinian man, becomes a writer on a popular soap opera after a chance meeting with an Israeli soldier. His creative career is on the rise – until the soldier and the show’s financial backers disagree about how the show should end, and Salam is caught in the middle. Művész Cinema – November, 30. – 7.30 p.m. and Puskin Cinema – December, 1.- 7.30 p.m.
Toman (Original title: Toman) – Czech Republic (2018) – Language: Czech – Director: Ondrej Trojan…This fascinating historical drama looks at the life of “the Czech Schindler,” Zdenek Toman, a controversial figure who was an unsavory politician and dubious entrepreneur, but also the savior of hundreds of European Jews. Művész Cinem – December, 1. – 2 p.m. and December, 2. – 2.30. p.m.
Longing – (Original title: Ga’agua) – Israel, 2017 – Language: Hebrew – Director: Savi Gabizon…A middle-aged Israeli bachelor is forced to evaluate his life choices when he discovers an ex-girlfriend had given birth to his son 20 years before, in this affecting drama from writer. Puskin Cinema – November, 30. 5 p.m. and December, 1. – 5.30 p.m.
The Shepherd – (Original title: A Pásztor) – Hungary, 2019. – Director: László Illés – Language: Hungarian with English subtitle. …Hungary, 1944 – The main character is an old shepherd, who lives alone on a ranch. After his daughter got killed by Nazis, he decided in his grief to save as many Jewish lives as possible. Művész Cinema – November, 30. – 5 p.m. and December, 2. – 5.30 p.m.
Those Who Remained (Original title: Akik maradtak) Hungary (2019) Language: Hungarian with English subtitles – Director: Barnabás Tóth…Having survived the camps, 42-year old Aldo lives a solitary life as a doctor in Budapest. 16-year old Klara lives reluctantly with her great-aunt, holding on to hope that her father and mother will return. She meets Aldo, and soon the two of them find something in each other that has long been absent in their lives. Puskin Cinema – December, 1. – 5 p.m. (The drama film was selected as the Hungarian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards.)
Curtiz (Original title: Curtiz) Hungary (2018) – Language: Hungarian with English subtitles – Director: Tamas Yvan Topolanszky…As America prepares to enter WW2, Hungarian film director Michael Curtiz graples with political intervention and a dysfunctional relationship with his estranged daughter amid the troubled production of Casablanca in 1942. Puskin Cinema – December, 1. – 3 p.m.
Tickets available from November, 14 at the a/m cinemas.
Always recommend booking ahead of time to avoid disappointment.
http://www.zsifi.org and/or http://www.muveszmozi.hu, http://www.puskinmozi.hu box offices.
Update Aggie Reiter
Rolling in Budapest 