Thursday, November 17 at 7:00 pm

West Newton Cinema

"Eicha", Israel 2001

Fiction, Hebrew with English subtitles, 20 min

Eicha is a young religious girl living in a typical West Bank settlement. Her unique and unusual name, Eicha, is the Hebrew title of the biblical scroll of lamentations that is read on Tisha B’av, the annual fast day commemorating the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem 2000 years ago. Tisha B’av is also Eicha’s birthday. Upon reaching the age of 18 she decides to change her name and try to establish her own identity

Awards:

First Prize, Tel Aviv Student Film Festival, Israeli Comp. 2002 * Best editing, Umbria Film Festival, Italy 2001 * Jury Favorite' Prize, Ma'ale 2001

"The Last Scene", Israel 2004

Documentary, Hebrew with English  subtitles, 50 min

For seventy years, Menucha has remained silent. The image of parting at the train station in Warsaw in the Spring of 1935 remains engraved in her memory.  The face of five year old Menucha is pressed against the window of the train, her eyes, wide with horror, stare at the scene on the platform.  Her sister Mindel, 11 years old, is clinging desperately to their mother's dress. The piercing whistle of the train fills the air.  The mother, in a single movement, tears away from the grasp of her daughter and rushes to board the train. The clatter of the wheels erases the image of the child vainly chasing the vanishing train.

The film follows Menucha's attempt to recreate that defining moment in her childhood with a fictional scene, and documents the challenges that she experiences in the effort to transform a blurry memory into a cinematic image.

About Eliezer Shapiro:

Born 1973, Israel.

Member of the 8th graduating class at Ma'ale School of Television, Film and the Arts, Jerusalem.

Recipient of numerous awards and scholarships from various Israeli and international cinematographic foundations.

About Ma'ale School of Film:

Ma'ale School of Television, Film and the Arts is the only institution of its kind in the world. Founded in 1989, Ma'ale trains filmmakers to produce work inspired by and linked to their Jewish heritage, fostering a unique connection between the world of media and Jewish culture. The school aims to build bridges between Jewish tradition and social experience, as well as between the religious and secular worlds.


For more info info@BostonForIsrael.org

Download color pdf flyer here (3 MB)

Download BW PDF flyer here (750KB)

Sponsored by:

Boston for Israel, Zionist House, Consulate of Israel, Land of Israel Committee