CULTURE
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an interview with Nick Cassenbaum — Jewish Renaissance
You tend to insert subtle nods to political topics into the glitter and the gags, has that been difficult to write in?I approach all of my writing with a sense of affection and joy and I really want to create something that people can enjoy together across all different divisions. Everyone has had ups and downs in their year, it…
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Eleanor the Great ★★★ — Jewish Renaissance
Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut won’t bust any boundaries, but it’s a satisfying, thought-provoking watch There’s a well-trodden path in Hollywood of A-list actors trying their hands at directing. Whilst plenty make the attempt, only a rare few succeed. For every Clint Eastwood and Greta Gerwig, there’s a Chris Pine or a Kevin Costner post-Dances with Wolves. Scarlett Johansson is the…
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The Assembled Parties ★★★★ — Jewish Renaissance
The second half is set during the Christmas before George W Bush’s inauguration. Julie’s husband Ben (Daniel Abelson) has died years ago and a sense of decline hangs in the air. The apartment is shabbier now, with leaky ceilings, and Julie’s money woes are symbolised by a static, dimly-lit room. In the corner a puny Christmas tree, a shadow of…
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Nobody Wants This (Season 2) ★★ — Jewish Renaissance
Season one of the show received a barrage of criticism for its cliched and stereotypical portrayals of Judaism – particularly the women. Season two largely avoids this issue by sidelining its female Jewish characters. Noah’s acerbic mother Bina (Tovah Feldshuh) and his former fiancée Rebecca (Emily Arlook) hardly appear. His sister-in-law Esther has a considerably beefed-up role, complete with her…
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The Wanderers ★★★★
Anna Ziegler’s drama takes audiences between timelines, relationships and the resulting dilemmas The most intriguing feature of The Wanderers is the successful marriage between Anna Ziegler’s text and the joint vision of director Igor Golyak and set designer Jan Pappelbaum. Together they translate the nuances of the characters’ bonds and dramas. At the heart of the narrative is Abe (Alexander…
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Jewish Culture in Unexpected Places — Jewish Renaissance
A snapshot of our recent JR Tour to Yorkshire & Coventry Last month JR enjoyed a short break to Yorkshire and Coventry to unearth all the Jewish art and culture the region has to offer. The three-day trip was packed full of walks, talks, art, history and theatre. We explored the diverse collection of Northern artists, including Ukrainian-born Jewish painter…
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Holding Liat ★★★★★ — Jewish Renaissance
The film follows Liat’s family, in particular her father Yehuda, as they campaign desperately to try and secure her release from captivity. Kramer, a distant relative of Liat’s family who has known them for years, follows their trip to Washington as part of a group of hostage families lobbying the American political establishment for support. This pre-existing relationship allows him…
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True Story ★★★★ — Jewish Renaissance
The brave and supportive Anton, instead of introducing Kon to read a statement likely to compromise him with the authorities, reads one of his own poems – a reality check that ends with a clear implication to Putin’s responsibility for “this death and destruction”. And, in a lighter moment, there is audience participation that involves the F-word and a panto-esque…
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Dr Freud Will See You Now, Mrs Hitler ★★★★ — Jewish Renaissance
Of course, we know the answer, but it’s still horribly fascinating watching the relationship break down as Adolf gets older, grows his signature moustache and becomes progressively more frustrated in his ambitions to be a painter. Over the years Freud is met with an increasingly angry Adolf as his feelings of entitlement harden his focus on finding both followers and…
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JR on South African radio — Jewish Renaissance
Following her appearance at Limmud SA last month to discuss the South Africa feature in our Summer 2025 issue, JR’s executive director Dr Aviva Dautch hopped on a call with Jewish South African radio station Chai FM to discuss art and culture in a Jewish context. Chatting to DJ Simon Anstey, the pair discussed Aviva’s time in the African country,…
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