Film Fanatic
Directed by: Shlomo Hazan
Language: Hebrew, English subtitles
2006 | Israel | Beta SP | Color | United States Premiere | 55 min
Topics: Spirituality & Religion, Orthodox Judaism, Media & News, Israel, Conservative Judaism, Art & Experimental Film
Yehuda Grovais, an energetic Israeli ultra-Orthodox Jew, makes films geared toward members of his community who are prohibited from watching mainstream movies but will watch his films on disc. His film productivity is astonishing, rivaling the output of 1950s B movie directors or the great martial arts production factories. He has made more than 50 feature films, replete with actors in period costumes and archetypally dramatic scripts. Grovais partially recoups his expenses from sales to his constituency, a model of indie filmmaking moxie. But at the end of the day his outward artistic journey leads him into confrontation with his own religiosity. He struggles with his community and with the secular cultural establishment, and ultimately with himself, to realize his impossible love: cinema.
Presented with Yoel, Israel and the Pashkevils
Co-presented by East Bay Media Center and Berkeley Video and Film Festivals, and by Peninsula Temple Sholom