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At The Jewish Museum’s High School Film Festival, students view award-winning documentaries examining issues such as identity, culture and tolerance. Each day of the FREE three-day festival features film screenings, post-film discussions, and a pizza lunch.
A Small Act (2009)Monday, December 6, 10:00 am–1:00 pm
Jennifer Arnold, Director
2010 Official Selection of the Sundance Film Festival
When Hilde Back, a Holocaust survivor, sponsored a young, poor Kenyan student, she thought nothing of it and never expected to hear from him. Now a Harvard graduate and Human Rights Lawyer for the United Nations, Chris Mburu decides to find the stranger that changed his life. Inspired by her generosity, he starts a scholarship program of his own and names it for his former benefactor. The film follows this story and three students, Kimani, Ruth and Caroline, as they compete for the Hilde Back Education Fund. With clarity and grace, A Small Act bears witness to the ripple effect a single action can create.
Surviving Hitler: A Love Story (2010)
Tuesday, December 7, 10:00 am–1:00 pm
John-Keith Wasson, Director
2010 Winner of the Full Frame Inspiration Award
Surviving Hitler is the true love story of Jutta and Helmuth, two German teenagers who fall in love at a dance in 1934. Their story then takes some remarkable turns. After discovering she is Jewish, Jutta becomes a target of the Nazis and Helmuth, who is not Jewish, enlists in the German army but finds he is against the war and Hitler. The two then join the German resistance movement and become involved in a plot to assassinate Hitler. Using never before seen 8mm archival footage and photographs from the time, Director John-Keith Wasson documents this story of strength, love and ultimate survival during World War II.
Post-film Q & A with Director John-Keith Wasson.
Heart of Stone (2009)
Thursday, December 9, 10:00 am–1:00 pm
Beth Toni Kruvant, Director/Producer
Back by popular demand!
Before 1960, Weequahic High School was known as one of the top schools in America. By 2000, it was one of the most violent. Heart of Stone is the true story of Weequahic High School’s quest to return to its former glory. The film follows Principal Ron Stone as he devises an unconventional plan to turn the school around. He begins by working with gangs and establishing the school as a “non-violence” zone. He then partners with the committed alumni association—comprised of mostly older Jewish and younger African American alumns—to raise funds for programs and college scholarships. Stone effectively transforms the gang culture of the school to one of discipline and performance.
Post-film Q & A with Director/Producer Beth Toni Kruvant.
This program is FREE. Pizza lunch served. Registration required. Please contact the Scheduling Coordinator at schedulingcoordinator@thejm.org or 212.423.3225 to make a reservation or for more information.