JEWISH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2019

With sensational tales packed with screen luminaries, side-splitting comedies, and stories of iconic Jewish trailblazers and innovators, the Jewish International Film Festival, from the 23rd October to the 21st November 2019, returns for another year of spectacular Jewish cinema from around the world.

Featuring 60 films from 23 countries, the Festival builds on almost 30 years of bringing the best of Jewish cinema to Australia, presenting 28 features, 29 documentaries, and full season screenings of three superb TV series to audiences in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Canberra.

SWITCH has explored this year's program to bring you the best films from the festival, so peruse through them below, and check back as we add more reviews throughout the event!

FIDDLER: A MIRACLE OF MIRACLES

Keeping up musical "Traditions" for over 55 years

This is a unique documentary about a musical - there's a lot here that fans mightn't know, as it isn’t a simple recount - it really is an open discussion about the show’s impact and legacy.

GOD OF THE PIANO

A tale that tickles the ivories

The film exemplifies the journey that comes from looking for validation from others, when inner peace could be faster achieved by finding worth within ourselves.

SAFE SPACES

Emotional family drama weighed down by problematic sub-plot

This could have been one of the definitive films about losing a family member, but because of a problematic subplot it, unfortunately, weighs down its stellar cast to come out as an average endeavour.

THE GOLEM

A horrifying spin on Jewish folklore

The film emphasises humanity over inhumanity not only by being a slick-looking period piece featuring an underused monster, but also an immersive morality tale that is as hopeful as it is horrific.

UNTOGETHER

Not even the cast could keep this one together

It wants to be deep and meaningful, but fails at both. It turns into a boring snoozefest; all the characters are bland and too full of themselves to even come close to being relatable.

THE OPERATIVE

Finding the humanity in espionage

If you're after a character-focused espionage drama with an emphasis on realism rather than a James Bond-style spy caper, 'The Operative' is worth checking out.

LOVE, ANTOSHA

A star taken too soon

It manages to capture the essence, cheek and love Anton Yelchin brought into the world, and the of heartache his passing. It may be a very long time before we see a talent like his again.