x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Jews on Film: Exploring Jewish Stories & Themes in Cinema

Daniel Zana & Harry Ottensoser

Daniel Zana & Harry Ottensoser discuss films of all types to investigate what truly makes a film Jewish. Covering everything from Fiddler on the Roof to Uncut Gems, they finish each episode by ranking the film’s production, content, and themes on a scale of 1 to 5 Jewish stars. Listen each week to find out!

tv & film film reviews

All Episodes

94:04

The Big Lebowski w/ Julie Sugar

Jews on Film: Exploring Jewish Stories & Themes in... ·

2023/02/09

Daniel and Harry are joined by writer Julie Sugar to discuss 1998’s cult favorite “The Big Lebowski,” directed by the Coen Brothers and starring Jeff Bridges, Julian Moore, and John Goodman.They delight in the film’s use of Yiddish and deep Jewish cuts, compare The Dude’s suffering to that of the Biblical Job, and consider the film’s depiction of Walter’s reverence for the laws and restrictions of his Jewish faith. As always, they close out the episode by ranking the film's "Jewishness"

en-US

99:46

The Exorcist w/ Oliver Park & Hank Hoffman

Jews on Film: Exploring Jewish Stories & Themes in... ·

2023/01/26

Daniel and Harry are joined by director Oliver Park and writer/producer Hank Hoffman of the new film "The Offering," to discuss the 1973 horror classic "The Exorcist," directed by William Friedkin and starring Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Max Von Sydow, and Jason Miller.They consider the differences in the way Jewish and Christian horror are presented onscreen, explore the tension between science, psychology, and spiritual faith, and discuss the importance of character depth and

en-US

75:08

Funny Girl w/ Yasmine Esther

Jews on Film: Exploring Jewish Stories & Themes in... ·

2023/01/19

Daniel & Harry welcome Yasmine Esther, Social Media Educator on Jewish Identity and Intra Community Issues, to discuss the 1968 musical "Funny Girl" directed by William Wyler and starring Jewish icon Barbara Streisand.They discuss the way the film portrays Jewish life without tokenizing it, uncover how Fanny uses language and comedy to reclaim laughter from the world of Broadway, and find comfort in the familiarity of a roast beef sandwich and some chopped liver.As always, they close out

en-US

84:53

Heartburn w/Sonya Sanford

Jews on Film: Exploring Jewish Stories & Themes in... ·

2023/01/12

Daniel & Harry welcome writer, cook and podcast co-host of "Food Friends" Sonya Sanford to the pod to discuss the 1986 film "Heartburn" directed by Mike Nichols, written by Norah Ephron, and starring Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson.They make the case for the film's supremely Jewish relationship with food, discuss the way the film censors some of the Jewishness from the lives of its real-world inspirations Carl Bernstein and Nora Ephron, and extol the comforts of eating a warm

en-US

79:51

The Vigil w/ JD Lifshitz

Jews on Film: Exploring Jewish Stories & Themes in... ·

2023/01/05

Daniel and Harry welcome producer JD Lifshitz to the pod to talk about the 2019 film The Vigil. They cover what JD doesn’t always like about “Jewish” movies, share behind-the-scenes stories from the making of the film, talk about how trauma affects the characters depicted in the film, and think of ways this movie could possibly be more Jewish!As always, they close out the episode by ranking the film’s "Jewishness" in terms of its cast & crew, content, and themes.IMDB -

en-US

70:04

Mr. Saturday Night w/Jen Stewart (Re-Release)

Jews on Film: Exploring Jewish Stories & Themes in... ·

2022/12/29

[originally aired July 7th 2022]In this exciting season two premiere, Harry and Daniel are joined by Jen Stewart of the Borscht Belt Tattler podcast to discuss "Mr Saturday Night" starring and directed by Billy Crystal.Jen explains why she chose the film, her connection to the Borscht Belt, and even surprises Harry and Daniel with a pop quiz on famous Jewish comedians and their real Hebrew names!Movie TrailerIMDB summaryBorscht Belt Tattler PodcastConnect with Jews on Film online:Instagram

en-US

117:50

The Fabelmans w/ Esther Kustanowitz

Jews on Film: Exploring Jewish Stories & Themes in... ·

2022/12/22

Daniel & Harry welcome writer and podcaster Esther Kustanowitz to discuss Steven Spielberg’s autobiographical 2022 film The Fabelmans, starring Michelle Williams, Gabriel LaBelle, and Paul Dano.They discuss the role Sammy’s Jewishness plays in isolating him from his peers, how his parents’ interests pushed him towards the technical and artistic sides of filmmaking, and how his role as director engendered a sense of emotional detachment throughout the different stages of his young life.As always,

en-US

89:33

Enemies: A Love Story w/Shawn Levy

Jews on Film: Exploring Jewish Stories & Themes in... ·

2022/12/15

Daniel & Harry welcome film critic, author, and podcaster Shawn Levy to discuss Paul Mazursky's 1989 film Enemies: A Love Story, starring Ron Silver, Anjelica Huston, Lena Olin, and Malgorzata Zajaczkowska.They discuss what differentiates the experience of the Jewish immigrant to America in the early 20th century, analyze the film’s exploration of survival through children, what’s so special about fruit compote, and track how Herman’s 3 wives represent his connection to his past, present,

en-US

61:21

The Producers w/ Danielle Solzman

Jews on Film: Exploring Jewish Stories & Themes in... ·

2022/12/08

In this week’s episode, Daniel & Harry are joined by film critic Danielle Solzman to discuss 1967’s “The Producers,” directed by Mel Brooks and starring Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder.They discuss how the film grapples with questions of how to joke about Nazis, marvel at the impressive musical numbers and choreography, and laugh along at the movies loud and brash comedy. As always, they close out the episode by ranking the film’s "Jewishness" in terms of its cast & crew, content, and

en-US

72:47

School Ties w/ Mark Oppenheimer

Jews on Film: Exploring Jewish Stories & Themes in... ·

2022/12/01

In this week’s episode, Daniel & Harry are joined by writer and podcast host Mark Oppenheimer to discuss Robert Mandel’s 1992 film “School Ties,” starring Brendan Fraser and Matt Damon.They unpack how the film represents widespread antisemitism as it existed at the time, debate the accuracy of its depiction of Jewish practice, and discuss how screenwriter Dick Wolf infuses a Law and Order type intensity into the film.As always, they close out the episode by ranking the film’s

en-US

73:19

Young Frankenstein w/ Noah Segan

Jews on Film: Exploring Jewish Stories & Themes in... ·

2022/11/24

Daniel and Harry welcome Noah Segan, actor/director/writer of the film "Blood Relatives,” to the pod to discuss the 1974 Mel Brooks classic "Young Frankenstein."They discuss themes of fate and repeating the sins of your ancestors, their love of genre films, and the way Mel Brooks embeds Jewishness into his homage of the classic monster film.As always, they close out the episode by ranking the film’s "Jewishness" in terms of its cast & crew, content, and themes.Young

en-US

74:02

Duck Soup w/ Benjamin Stuart Thompson

Jews on Film: Exploring Jewish Stories & Themes in... ·

2022/11/17

Daniel and Harry are joined by Benjamin Stuart Thompson, a multi-venue director of stage, television, and film to discuss the 1933 Marx Brothers classic "Duck Soup."Benjamin shares stories of his grandfather Arthur Sheekman, a writer on "Duck Soup" along with other Marx Brothers films.They discuss the film's depiction of the brothers as "others" in the otherwise strait-laced nation of Freedonia. They also dive into the film’s gags, wordplay, and musical numbers, and

en-US

85:21

After Hours w/ Nabil Ayers

Jews on Film: Exploring Jewish Stories & Themes in... ·

2022/11/10

Daniel and Harry are back for season three of Jews on Film! In this season premiere they welcome Nabil Ayers - music industry entrepreneur, musician, and author to discuss Martin Scorsese's 1985 dark comedy "After Hours" starring Griffin Dunne, Rosanna Arquette, and Linda Fiorentino.They discuss SoHo in the 1980s, Scorsese’s exploration of temptation and punishment, how this film fits into the "Yuppie Nightmare" canon of films alongside others like "Fatal Attraction" and

en-US

82:47

Booksmart w/Ginna Green & Lynn Harris

Jews on Film: Exploring Jewish Stories & Themes in... ·

2022/09/29

In this season two finale of Jews on Film, Daniel and Harry are joined by Ginna Green and Lynn Harris, co-hosts of the podcast A Bintel Brief, to discuss 2019’s “Booksmart” directed by Olivia Wilde and starring Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein.They uncover the coded Jewishness in some of its lead and side characters, debate whether the film’s structure is inherently Jewish or not, and make the case that the film represents in “Jews in the writers’ room.”As always, they end the episode by ranking

en-US

87:51

BONUS: Rain Man on Dead Beat Film Society Podcast

Jews on Film: Exploring Jewish Stories & Themes in... ·

2022/09/22

In this special episode, Harry and Daniel are guests of the Seattle-based Dead Beat Film Society podcast, joining them in a discussion of Barry Levinson’s Rain Man, starring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman. Tune in to hear their them chat about the way the film defies genre convention to deliver a moving, but realistic and measured portrayal of the central relationship. They further talk about the portrayal of disabilities onscreen and how that might be achieved today, why this might be one of

en-US

64:56

The Long Goodbye w/Noah Rinsky

Jews on Film: Exploring Jewish Stories & Themes in... ·

2022/09/15

In this week’s episode, Daniel & Harry welcome Noah Rinsky of @oldjewishmen to the pod to discuss Robert Altman's 1973 noir classic "The Long Goodbye,” starring Elliot Gould.They cover Gould and Altman’s interpretation of novelist Raymond Chandler’s iconic detective Phillip Marlowe, coding him as Jewish in a way that distinguishes him from past onscreen portrayals. They further discuss the way the film uses the “saving the cat” device to draw sympathy to Marlowe, as well as how it

en-US

56:49

Homicide w/Emil Stern

Jews on Film: Exploring Jewish Stories & Themes in... ·

2022/09/08

In this week’s episode, Daniel and Harry welcome writer Emil Stern to discuss David Mamet’s 1991 film Homicide, starring Joe Mantegna and William H. Macy.They delve into protagonist Bobby Gold’s journey as a “wandering Jew,” struggling to fit in with both his fellow cops and the Jewish family whose murder case he’s been tasked to solve. They further discuss the harsh language of Mamet’s script, and how it’s used to victimize everyone from the film’s cops to its Jewish characters.As always, they end

en-US

98:55

A Clockwork Orange w/Nathan Abrams

Jews on Film: Exploring Jewish Stories & Themes in... ·

2022/09/01

In this week’s episode, Daniel and Harry are joined by Professor Nathan Abrams, a professor of film studies at Bangor University in Wales and Jewish film scholar, to discuss Stanley Kubrick’s 1971 film A Clockwork Orange, starring Malcolm McDowell.They discuss the film’s exploration of the relationship between power and authority, consider the Jewishness in its approach to free choice and accountability, and uncover the subtle allusions Kubrick makes in this, and the rest of the films, to the

en-US

70:17

The Plot Against Harry w/ PJ Grisar

Jews on Film: Exploring Jewish Stories & Themes in... ·

2022/08/25

In this week's episode, Daniel & Harry are joined by PJ Grisar, Culture Writer for The Forward, to discuss the 1971 hidden gem "The Plot Against Harry," directed by Michael Roemer and starring Martin Priest as the eponymous Harry.Listen along as they chronicle Harry’s ”teshuva” journey following his time in prison, dive into the authentic representation of a ‘70s New York Jewish community, and lose track of all the movie’s weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, and other Jewish celebrations.As

en-US

86:48

The Heartbreak Kid w/ Esther Werdiger

Jews on Film: Exploring Jewish Stories & Themes in... ·

2022/08/18

In this week's episode, Daniel & Harry are joined by Esther Werdiger, Art Director for Tablet Magazine, to discuss the 1972 classic comedy "The Heartbreak Kid," directed by Elaine May and starring Charles Grodin, Cybill Shepherd, and Jeannie Berlin.Tune in as they identify within the film the hallmarks of 1970s New York Jewry, consider the film’s satirical take on the threat of Jewish assimilation, and debate the repulsiveness of getting an egg salad sandwich all over your faceAs

en-US

98 results

Similar Podcasts

Scoop Viewfinder

Gene Viewfinder

IGN Movie Reviews

IGN

The Adam Friedland Show Podcast

The Adam Friedland Show

BEHIND THE VELVET ROPE

David Yontef

Love Island: The Morning After

Lifted Entertainment part of ITV Studios