Director:

Avi Nesher

The Matchmaker
Israel | 112 minutes Genre: Drama Language: Hebrew w/English subtitles

Screenings:

Harkins Camelview 5 Scottsdale | Weds. Feb. 15th, 2012 | 7:00 PM

Harkins Arrowhead 18 Peoria | Sun. Feb. 19th, 2012 | 7:00 PM

Harkins Crossroads 12 Chandler | Thurs. Feb. 23rd, 2012 | 7:00 PM

Seeing is believing. But, believing what? What will you come to believe about Yankele Bride, Holocaust survivor, the Matchmaker of this film? Yankele is certainly not Yenta, the good hearted Matchmaker of Fiddler. But what is he? Yankele is a complicated, mysterious character. Is he a shady businessman in cahoots with a band of Romanian dwarfs, themselves survivors? But why does he specialize in helping those with disabilities and other serious problems? Is Yankele, in fact, more on a mission than in business? Is this why Yankele takes teenager Arik under his wing in summer, 1968 Haifa? This is that special summer: coming of age, first loves, the discovery of the human heart, always to be conflicted by choices between good and bad. But come watch, enjoy and perhaps find some answers as to what to believe from The Matchmaker.

“The Matchmaker is a love story, a coming of age story, a comedy, a drama, a tale of first love, friends, secrets and heartbreaking truths.”

- Lenore Marwell, Jewish Film Festival, JCC of Metropolitan Detroit

Winner Audience Choice Award, 25th Israel Film Festival NY

Guest Speaker at Chandler Crossroads 12
Rabbi Dean Shapiro
Rabbi Dean Shapiro serves as the spiritual leader of Temple Emanuel of Tempe and directs the community's vibrant Caring and Social Justice programs. Before his arrival in July, 2011, Rabbi Shapiro served the Progressive Jewish Community of Auckland, New Zealand. He received Rabbinical Ordination and a Masters in Hebrew Arts and Letters from Hebrew Union College, and a bachelor's degree from Harvard College. Prior to entering the rabbinate, Rabbi Shapiro worked for over a decade in the film business, specializing in the international sale and marketing of feature films.

Short Film

Camelview 5 and Arrowhead 18

THE HONEYMOON SUITE (UK)

Director: Sam Leifer – Drama, 12 minutes, English/French
The hotel room may be a suite, but in this film, the Honeymoon is hardly starting off in an “Oh, how sweet it is” mood. Is it particular to an arranged marriage cutting across language and cultural barriers? Perhaps not too many earlier generations experienced new, strange, or exciting marital beginnings. See for yourself, in this film of charming distress.

Chandler Crossroads 12

HAVA NAGILA: What Is It? (USA)

Director: Roberta Grossman - Documentary – 10 minutes, English
A work in progress film for a song that has progressed to being played, sung, danced to and loved the world over. A tune, with words that can be sung in any tongue and translates as JOY! Behind any memorable work there has to be a history. Along with Harry Belafonte and others, you can share with the filmmaker in finishing the story. Meantime enJOY!

“When you find a song that says ‘Let us rejoice’ there is no better song to leave an evening with than that statement.”

- Harry Belafonte, December 2009

The Matchmaker