FRI, JAN 10 / 9 pm
SAT - SUN, JAN 11 - 12 / 7 pm
WED - FRI, JAN 15 - 17 7 pm
SAT, JAN 18 / 9 pm
Directed by Alan Zweig
2013, Canada, 90 min
Insightful and often hilarious, the latest from acclaimed documentary filmmaker Alan Zweig (Vinyl, I Curmudgeon) surveys the history of Jewish comedy, from the early days of Borscht Belt to the present, ultimately exploring not just ethnicity in the entertainment industry, but also the entire unruly question of what it means to be Jewish.
Reviews
The film begins with a question: Why were so many comedians Zweig watched on television in the 1950’s and 60’s Jewish? Zweig presents a casual first person history of Jewish stand up, unearthing some amazing archival footage (with a phemonenal bit by the legendary Jackie Mason) and interviewing some of America’s most successful and influential comics, including Elon Gold, Howie Mandel, Shelly Berman, Jack Carter, Shecky Greene, David Steinberg and Super Dave Osborne… funny and heartfelt.
TIFF
Hilarious from start to finish, and at times very touching.
THE FILM REEL
