Oren Rudavsky Movies
- 2008
Harold L. Humes, known to his friends as "Doc," was a modern-day Renaissance man -- he was a published novelist, invented water-resistant paper houses for use in the Third World, helped launch the literary journal The Paris Review, co-founded the New American Cinema Group, studied at MIT, and served as campaign manager for Norman Mailer's ill-fated run for mayor of New York City. Humes' friends and colleagues included George Plimpton, William Styron, and Timothy Leary, but his association with the latter proved to have unexpected consequences -- Leary turned Humes on to LSD in the mid-'60s, and Humes' outgoing, mildly eccentric personality took a left turn after he began indulging in psychedelics. Humes' career as a writer bottomed out, his marriage fell apart, and he spent much of the '70s and '80s as a vagabond, drifting from one college campus to another, where he would become a campus character until he wore out his welcome. Humes' daughter Immy Humes is an acclaimed documentary filmmaker, and Doc is Immy's filmed portrait of her father, in which he offers his own perspective on his strange life and times while a number of his famous friends share their memories him. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
A man and a woman are faced with an unusual "fifth wheel" in their relationship -- his analyst -- in this offbeat independent comedy. Jake Singer (Chris Eigeman) is a schoolteacher working at a respected private school for boys. Jake recently parted ways with his longtime girlfriend and isn't especially happy about being single again. Jake begins seeing a psychiatrist, Dr. Morales (Ian Holm), whose advise often seems to cause more harm than good. Jake meets Allegra (Famke Janssen), a woman whose adopted son attends his school; Allegra is still getting over the death of her husband, but Jake is strongly attracted to her and she seems to feel the same way. Morales is convinced Allegra is simply using Jake (there are questions about her ability to care for her son that may cause her to lose custody if she remains single), and he advises Jake that if he must go on dating her, he should seduce Allegra without becoming emotionally involved. This is more easily said than done, but as Jake and Allegra spend more time together, he begins seeing and hearing Morales at the most inopportune moments, with the doctor offering un-called-for tips on their relationship. The Treatment received the award for best "Made In New York" feature at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Christopher Eigeman, Famke Janssen, (more)
- 2003
- Add Hiding and Seeking: Faith and Tolerance After the Holocaust to Queue Add Hiding and Seeking: Faith and Tolerance After the Holocaust to top of Queue
Members of a family try to bridge their differences as they address different interpretations of Judaism in this emotionally powerful documentary. Menachem Daum is a devout Jew, as is his wife, Rivka Daum. During World War II, Rivka's father survived the Holocaust thanks to a Polish family who hid him from Nazi troops in their home, and Rivka and Menachem have planned a trip to Eastern Europe in order to find and meet the Poles who saved her father's life. The couple have two grown sons, whom they wish would join them for the trip; both are Orthodox Jews living in Jerusalem and studying in yeshiva. While Menachem is proud of his sons' faith, he also believes they have set themselves apart from the real world, and fears they've used their devotion as a wall rather than a bridge. Eventually, the two sons join their parents on their journey, and both the parents and their children gain valuable perspectives on one another's points-of-view, especially after meeting the family of heroic Poles. Hiding and Seeking: Faith and Tolerance After The Holocaust was shown in competition at the 2002 San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
This 60-minute documentary is a candid and emotional look at 11 single women who have decided to actively pursue motherhood without the assistance of a spouse or boyfriend. The women are in a support group in New York City and are intelligent, articulate, and financially independent. But they also feel that since they are nearing the end of their fertile years they must stop waiting and "go it alone." The documentary was filmed over two years and focuses particularly on two group members -- Debbie and Jan -- who are both 43. Debbie becomes pregnant by an unknown donor and viewers follow her throughout her pregnancy. Jan, despite dozens of attempts and thousands of dollars, fails to become pregnant. Viewers follow her through a journey of initial optimism, disappointment, and finally a transition to adoption. ~ Karla Baker, Rovi
- 1997
- Add A Life Apart: Hasidism In America to Queue Add A Life Apart: Hasidism In America to top of Queue
With deeply ingrained moral codes based on traditions that date back to the 18th century, practitioners of Hasidic Judaism stand apart from mainstream modern socieities, making the one of the most misunderstood sects of the Hebrew religion. The sect had its origins in Central Europe and did not really establish communities in the U.S. until after the Nazis invaded their homelands. This insightful documentary profiles some of those American communities and the effect they have on their neighbors as well as the way the outside world affects them. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1995
This Mexican documentary chronicles the experiences of the Jewish refugees who came from Europe to settle in Mexico during the 1920s. Most of the refugees came to escape anti-Semitism and the forced economic hardships they endured in their homelands and had hoped that "America" meant the U.S. But the U.S. had just enacted strict quota laws and many of the immigrants were relegated to Central and South America. The stories of these refugees are told via interviews, archival film clips, photographs and other resources. The film also features several narrators who offer their unique opinions on life in their new countries. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1995
This award-winning film provides an in-depth look at the often puzzling neurological disorder called Tourette syndrome. Those afflicted with this illness must often contend with uncontrollable physical twitching and verbal outbursts. Aired on PBS as a P.O.V. series episode, the film features a photojournalist with TS sharing what it's like to try and lead a relatively normal life in spite of this disability. ~ Elizabeth Smith, Rovi
- 1994
- Add The Last Klezmer: Leopold Kozlowski - His Life and Music to Queue Add The Last Klezmer: Leopold Kozlowski - His Life and Music to top of Queue
Klezmer music is a fusion of gypsy music, Jewish liturgical music, and the typical musical forms of Eastern Europe, including the polka. It is most familiarly performed at Jewish weddings, and had nearly died out by the mid-1990s, when a modest revival of interest began to hold some promise that it might survive. This documentary closely interviews the lively and charming Leopold Kozlowski, a klezmer musician and composer who survived the Nazi's concentration camps and managed to get on with his life and his vocation. Among his many vivid recollections is his tale about playing Lili Marlene over and over again for a group of guards at the camp. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
Empty Bed is a 60-minute character study of an ageing homosexual. Bill Frayne (John Wylie) sits alone in his room, contemplating his past, present and future. In flashback, the events of the last 24 hours are assessed, as he sifts through the personal contacts--both gay and straight--made during the day. Empty Bed was completed in 1988 and entered into festival competition, winning awards at Houston International Film Festival and Sinking Creek Film Festival. The film was released on a general basis in 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1989
Lest you imagine that the Polish farm family which hid director Debbie Goodstein's Jewish family in their attic during World War Two was motivated by the milk of human kindness, it is well to remember that they took every valuable item the family members possessed as compensation for their troubles. And a newborn baby who could not be safely hidden had to be abandoned on the steps of a nearby church. This documentary recounts this tale as the director revisits this site, so important to her family's history. The film crew was not received in this rural village with open arms. Indeed, anti-Semitic slogans and swastikas were freshly painted on walls in the neighborhood by way of "welcome." The film's recording of present day Polish attitudes underscore the wonder her family survived at all. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- 1987
This quaintly romantic low-budget vampire film from notorious Troma Studios involves the plight of a naive country girl (Rachel Gordon) whose first venture into the Big Apple leads to degradation and humiliation at the hands of heartless city slickers. Her destiny changes radically when she falls into the arms of charming hundred-year-old vampire Robespierre (Brendan Hickey), who is instantly smitten. Learning of the abuse she has suffered, Robespierre seeks bloody retribution on the louts responsible. Though slow-moving at times, this film benefits from a fairly involving story and a few twists unique to the vampire genre, and is remarkably tasteful in comparison to Troma Studios' typical gross-out product. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi
- Starring:
- Rachel Golden, Brendan Hickey, (more)
In this documentary, join 13-year-old Eric Strom as he travels to Cracow, Poland for his Bar Mitzvah -- the first such ceremony held there since the Holocaust. ~ Rovi
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