Danny Segev Movies
Triumph of the Spirit is the true story of Salamo Arouch, a Greek-Jewish boxer imprisoned in Auschwitz during World War II. Arrested while attempting to help his family and friends escape the Nazi juggernaut, Arouch (Dafoe) is slated for extermination. He manages to survive--and to serve as an inspiration for his fellow inmates--by literally boxing for his life. He does this at the orders of his SS captors, who gamble on the outcome of Arouch's bouts. With each victory, Arouch is rewarded with extra bread rations, which he passes on to his family. Counterpointing the main story is the seemingly foredoomed romantic relationship between Arouch and female inmate Allegra (Wendy Gazelle). An uplifting coda rounds out this grim factual account. Triumph of the Spirit was filmed on location at Auschwitz--the first film of its kind to be lensed in that infamous locale. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Willem Dafoe, Edward James Olmos, (more)
Billy Barty, one of the world's biggest little people, stars in this musical children's fable from the Brothers Grimm. Rumpelstiltskin (Barty) promises the miller's daughter Katie (Amy Irving) that she will be able to spin straw into gold in order to win the love of the Prince (John Mouler-Brown). After the marriage, Katie gives birth to a son that the nasty gnome abducts. Rumpelstiltskin agrees to give the child back to Katie if she can guess his name. An excellent performance from Billy Barty who began his career in the silent film era. Amy Irving's brother David provides the direction. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Amy Irving, Billy Barty, (more)
- 1986
Originally a student film by director Raphi Bukaee, this insightful comic look at the futility of war was expanded into its current 84-minute running time to good advantage. The story centers on two Egyptian soldiers (Suheil Hadad and Salim Daou) who are lost in the Sinai desert at the end of the Six-Day War. They must somehow find their way back to the Suez Canal without being captured by Israeli troops or succumbing to heat and dehydration. Presented as a series of vignettes, how the two inventive soldiers face each new challenge is hilarious and/or entertaining. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Suheil Hadad, Danny Roth, (more)
- 1985
- R
Never mind the title: Goodbye, New York mostly takes place in Israel. Julie Hagerty plays Nancy Callighan, a spoiled Irish-Jewish lass who decides to see the world after her husband has betrayed her. En route to Paris by plane, Nancy takes a few too many sedatives, and when she awakens, she's in Tel Aviv, minus money and luggage. Latching onto a cabdriver (Amos Kollek), Nancy settles in a Kibbutz, where she is subjected to traditional limitations on her freedom of choice and movement. Before long, however, she has adjusted to her new lifestyle. With the arrival of her husband, however, Nancy is faced with a momentous decision: should she give up all that she now holds near and dear, or should she return to New York. A darkly funny plot twist makes our heroine's mind up in record time. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Julie Hagerty, Amos Kollek, (more)
