Ms. Buzz & AAUW-Illinois Update
Huge thanks to the editors of Ms. Magazine for helping us publicize “Jane Addams Day” on 12/10/07! Read details along with an important update from the AAUW-Illinois “Jane Addams Day” Committee in the linked pdf. For complete information (including reservation forms for multiple events) visit our AAUW-Illinois website. Primary credit for alerting us to various state commemorative days goes to Lucy Knight author of CITIZEN: Jane Addams & the Struggle for Democracy.
31.Oct.07 
Events: Jane Addams Day 
Read more 
Comment (1)
10/28 Meet-Up Details
Chicago’s khaverim have been watching some terrific films at this year’s 2nd annual Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema, but Q&A time has been limited & there hasn’t been much opportunity for comparative discussion. If you would like to discuss this year’s films, come to an informal meet-up on Sunday (10/28) @ the Panera Bread one block from the Wilmette Theatre @ 2 PM.
The 2007 CFIC runs from October 18th thru October 28th, & I will be assisting with numerous Q&A sessions this year. Click here for Tzivi’s Complete Guide to the 2007 CFIC. Click here for info on last year’s event. Thanks to my friend Kim Merenkov for taking pix at the Q&A after the DEAR MR. WALDMAN screening on 10/21, & thanks to my friend Dorthea Juul for taking pix at the Q&A with director Dan Wolman after the TIED HANDS screening on 10/24.
25.Oct.07 Events: Khaverot v' Khaverim Read more Comments (0)
A really wonderful film called EMPATHY played on Saturday night (10/27) at the Wilmette Theatre as part of the 2nd annual Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema. Writer/director Adi Refaeli began her career in community television & this is her first film. The EMPATHY premiere was held at last year’s Jerusalem Film Festival, and it was also shown at Israel’s International Women’s Film Festival in Rehovot. It has now reached America where EMPATHY recently won the Judges Award for Best Short from the Red Rock Film Festival in Utah. It has also received positive reviews after film festival screenings in Boston, Indianapolis, Manhattan, and Syracuse, NY.
EMPATHY is sort of an Israeli version of CRASH (which won the Best Picture Oscar in 2006), but I actually think it’s much better. Its special achievement is to balance the scenes so that you come to see each unique point of view. There are Ashkenazi, Mizrachi, Russian, & Palestinian characters, & all are remarkably well-depicted. Even though she has no time to create complex back stories, Adi makes us understand why they all do the things they do, even when specific actions are reprehensible. One chain of events represents the whole, and the urgent plea of this novice filmmaker is obvious: before lashing out at “the other” stop and think through the consequences, not just how you might impact them, but what damage you could do to your own soul in the process.
The 2007 CFIC runs from October 18th thru October 28th, & I assisted with numerous Q&A sessions this year (including the Q&A after the 10/27 screening of EMPATHY). EMPATHY is my top pick in this year’s CFIC shorts category. Click here for my Guide to the 2007 CFIC (published in the October issue of the JUF NEWS). Click here for info on last year’s event.
25.Oct.07 Events: Khaverot v' Khaverim, Events: WITASWAN & SWAN Day, Rants: Film Festival Buzz, Reviews: E-G Read more Comments (0)
“Change for Change” Campaign Info
Congratulations to the winners of the “Around the World with AAUW” raffle at the Fall District Conference-North at Oakton Community College on 10/20/07. The five DVDs raffled off were GRBAVICA (a film from Bosnia representing Europe), THE HOLY GIRL (a film from Argentina representing South America), JAPANESE STORY (a film from Australia), SALAAM BOMBAY (a film from India representing Asia), and SATIN ROUGE (a film from Tunisia representing Africa). All of these fine films were written AND directed by women!
Proceeds from the 10/20/07 raffle will be added to the AAUW-Illinois CHANGE FOR CHANGE fund which will be donated to projects sponsored by ONE SHARED WORLD’s GlobalGiving campaign. The projects will be selected by AAUW-Illinois members at our Spring Conference in May, 2008.
Photo shows Penny Parrish, Director of College/University Relations for AAUW-Illinois, staffing the WITASWAN display with “Jane Austen” & Rosie the Riveter.
24.Oct.07 Events: WITASWAN & SWAN Day Read more Comments (0)
Third stop on my “Jane Addams Day” roadshow: I was supposed to show DINNER AT JANE’S to AAUW-Illinois members from Districts 4 & 5 attending the Fall District Conference-North, but I was carrying so much stuff with me that I forgot to bring my VHS tapes! Luckily keynote speaker Louise W. Knight (aka “Lucy”) agreed to stay after lunch to lead an expanded Q&A session. Lucy is the author of CITIZEN: Jane Addams & the Struggle for Democracy. Click here to order Lucy’s wonderful book from Women & Children First bookstore (AAUW-Illinois “official partner” for online orders).
For more information about DINNER AT JANE’S & all of AAUW-Illinois’ plans for Jane Addams Day celebrations statewide, visit the AAUW-Illinois website. The first annual Jane Addams Day in Illinois is 12/10/07. (Photo of me & Lucy by Penny Parrish, Director of College/University Relations for AAUW-Illinois.)
24.Oct.07 Events: Jane Addams Day Read more Comments (0)
Opening Night festivities at the 2nd annual Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema. The 2007 CFIC runs from October 18th thru October 28th, & I will be assisting with numerous Q&A sessions this year. Click here for Tzivi’s Complete Guide to the 2007 CFIC. Click here for info on last year’s event.
19.Oct.07 Events: Khaverot v' Khaverim, Rants: Film Festival Buzz Read more Comments (0)
Despite Jan’s horrible cold, we made it to Closing Night festivities @ the Chicago International Film Festival, wearing the t-shirts Cinema/Chicago had designed especially for us last year (well, OK, last year was the 42nd annual CIFF, but still…). In prior years, Closing Night at the Harris Theatre has been filled to the gills for dreck like THE WEATHER MAN, so Jan was somewhat disappointed by attendance for THE SAVAGES, nevertheless the crowd was both large & enthusiastic.
At the post-screening reception, Jan said to Laura Linney: “Laura, even after 25 years of marriage, my husband would ditch me in a minute if you would take him on!” Without missing a beat, Ms. Linney graciously replied: “And I’ll be very good to him!” Rich blushed, but managed to add: “It’s true. When you’re in a film, we ALWAYS go!” At which point, the three of us chatted briefly, but appreciately, about some of her prior films, especially KINSEY (one of our 2004 TWOZIES).
Next morning, Jan had a private one-on-one with director Tamara Jenkins (more on that later). Thanks to our film friend Kim Merenkov for great pix of the happy couple!
19.Oct.07 Events: WITASWAN & SWAN Day, Rants: Film Festival Buzz Read more Comments (0)
Thirtysomething Manhattanite (Laura Linney) puts her own life on hold when her estranged father (Philip Bosco) succumbs to dementia. Caring for him with a brother she knows only slightly better (Philip Seymour Hoffman) becomes life-changing for both of them. Jan’s agog, but while Rich loved performances, he found frequent “shifts-of-tone” between comedy & tragedy disorienting. Writer/Director Tamara Jenkins (center) takes questions after the screening of her new film THE SAVAGES at the final night of the 2007 Chicago International Film Festival. (Left: Cinema/Chicago Marketing & Membership Manager Vivian Teng, who facilitated our special ticket requests & arranged the 10/10 WITASWAN Event. Right: Our movie buddy Kim Merenkov wearing a necklace to die for!) Click here to read about Tamara Jenkins first film SLUMS OF BEVERLY HILLS.
19.Oct.07 Rants: Film Festival Buzz, Reviews: T Read more Comments (0)
The campaign for the 2008 Oscars officially began yesterday (10/17/07). How do I know? Because yesterday I received my first “For Your Consideration” letter. In the next three months, my e-mail & snail mail inboxes will be flooded with letters, screeners, & chum of many varieties, all of which I will receive because I am a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association. In case you were wondering, Oscars don’t just happen — people campaign for them! So keep checking back here, & I will tell you what I am campaigning for this year & what you can do to help. Let the games begin 
18.Oct.07 Rants: Oscars & Other Awards Read more Comments (0)
The 2007 Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema opens tomorrow night (Thurs 10/18) at the Pipers Alley Theatre in Old Town & several wonderful films by Israeli schvesters are on the schedule. My top pick in the shorts category is EMPATHY a terrific new film by first time director Adi Refaeli (showing on Sat 10/27 @ 9:30 PM at the Wilmette Theatre). And guess what: I’ll be leading the post-screening Q&A! My top pick in the documentary category is THE ASHKENAZIM co-directed by Dalia Meyerovich (showing on Thurs 10/25 @ 6:15 PM at the Wilmette Theatre). Click here for my complete guide to the CFIC ‘07, & check back here for Penny’s daily updates.
17.Oct.07 Events: Khaverot v' Khaverim, Events: WITASWAN & SWAN Day, Rants: Film Festival Buzz Read more Comments (0)
