After a highly successful survey of films dealing with the Jewish experience in America, we now broaden our survey to explore the modern Jewish experience in countries throughout the western world. Notable creators have explored provocative themes in a number of countries, creating memorable films. We have chosen ten films from foreign countries as well as four made in America. Such highly esteemed directors such as De Sica, Lean, Truffaut and Spielberg brought their visions to life over sixty years. This extensive period inevitably includes the rise of fascism, the Holocaust and the founding of the state of Israel, but also involves a variety of more intimate topics. We will consider the reception and reaction to each film, as well as the world situation at the time of each film's release.
1. OLIVER TWIST, 1951 (British); 2.EXODUS, 1960 (USA); 3. SHOP ON MAIN STREET, 1965 (Czech); 4. GARDEN OF THE FINZI-CONTINIS, 1971 (Italian); 5. CABARET, 1972. (USA); 6. THE APPRENTICE SHIP OF DUDDY KRAVITZ, 1974 (Canadian); 7. MADAME ROSA, 1977 (French); 8. CHARIOTS OF FIRE, 1981 (British): 9. ZELIG, 1983 (USA); 10. AU REVOIR LES ENFANTS, 1984 (French); 11. EUROPA, EUROPA , 1991 (Polish); 12. SCHINDLER'S LIST, 1993 (USA); 13. LA PETITE JERUSALEM, 2005 (French); 14. FOOTNOTE, 2011 (Israeli)
Baron Lawrence, Editor THE MODERN JEWISH EXPERIENCE IN WORLD CINEMA, (Brandeis University Press, Mass. 2011)
Bernheimer, Kathryn, THE 50 GREATEST JEWISH MOVIES, (Birch Lane Press, New Jersey, 1998)