2 Movie Reviews by Dreaming Bear
November 12th, 2012 by chocko
The following reviews are by a special guest writer, DREAMING BEAR. She came out of her Jersey cave to check out 2 films at the Teaneck International Film Festival (Nov 9-11, 2012). Take it away, D. Bear!
The Puffin Foundation of Teaneck, New Jersey, produced its 7th annual grassroots film festival this year. Focusing on activism, diversity and change, this year’s Teaneck International Film Festival’s theme was one of forgiveness and reconciliation.
Some of this year’s offerings included the French film, Free Men showing how Jews and Muslims worked together during World War II and a number of very interesting documentaries such the Israeli movie Four Hundred Miles To Freedom. In addition to the outstanding content and quality of the films, some showings included live music, snacks, and post-film discussions. The ticket price was very affordable and the small venues located throughout Teaneck made the whole experience very personal and enjoyable.
Special thanks to all the volunteers and to the organizations, businesses and individuals whose financial support makes the whole festival possible.
CLOUDBURST
DIRECTOR: Thom Fitzgerald
This film is both a laugh-out-loud and wipe-your-tears winner!
Olympia Dukakis plays Stella, a fiesty, foul-mouthed, Tequila drinking 80 year old with a dogged determination to keep her long-time partner, Dot, played by Brenda Friker, out of a nursing home and the clutches of her controlling granddaughter.
The two women running from the law, embark on a road trip to Canada where they could legally be married. They meet all kinds of adventures and characters along the way. Mostly, however, they are given the opportunity to explore their deep devotion to each other and to have it profoundly affect the people around them.
Cloudburst is a heart-lifting celebration of the resiliency of the human spirit and our will to achieve our greatest desires in life – to love and to be free to be who we truly are. I give it the highest recommendation.
DRESSING AMERICA: TALES FROM THE GARMENT CENTER
DIRECTOR: Steven Fischler and Joel Sucher
This inspiring and informative documentary opens with Charlie, an 86 year old textile salesman in NYC’s garment district, who has served many of the same families in the clothing manufacturing business for over 3 generations.
While Paris has generally been considered the birthplace of couture, the post World War II Jewish immigrants to NYC were the true pioneers of the fashion industry in the United States.
They came here with not only their superb skills and handmade tools, but a deep desire to better their lives in a new country filled with opportunity. And they did just that – elevating the humble “schmatte” trade to a high art form, filled with elegance. For these people the industry was more than a job. It was a personal dream, a family affair, a culture, a whole way of life. In many cases that is still true today.
All of this and more is explored in this thoroughly enjoyable and educational film. Plus, we get a lot of Jewish humor and a bit of kvetching. What’s not to love?
(TEXT BY DREAMING BEAR)
Tags: cloudburst, dreaming bear, dressing ameriica, movie, new jersey, nj, review, teaneck international film festival
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