Schedule:
8:30 p.m: Houston Jewish Film Festival: Opening Night: Seven Blessings
Drama - Directed by Ayelet Menahemi - 2023 - Israel - Hebrew, French, Moroccan with English subtitles - 111 minutes - Kaplan Theatre
Winner of 10 Ophir Awards (Israeli Oscars), including Best Picture, Ayelet Menahemi’s captivating drama about culture and forgiveness brings us inside an extended family celebrating the union of a Moroccan-Jewish bride and French-Ashkenazi groom with the traditional Sheva Brachot (Seven Blessings). As the week of festivities unfolds—behind the boisterous, multi-lingual conversations and elaborate, home-cooked meals—lies a painful family secret inspired by true events.
Shabbos Goy
Short - Directed by Adam Goott and Alex Szlezinger - 2022 - United Kingdom - English - 5 minutes - Kaplan Theatre (preceding Seven Blessings)
Self-proclaimed “complete atheist” Terry Neville is caretaker at the Radlett United Synagogue north of London in this poignant, charmingly wry short.