Films about Jews encompass a wide array of narratives, genres, and historical epochs, reflecting the diverse experiences of Jewish individuals and communities throughout history. These films might explore themes of faith, identity, persecution, resilience, and the cultural contributions of Jewish people. They often delve into significant historical events, such as the Holocaust, but also portray contemporary Jewish life, religious practices, and the complexities of Jewish identity and existence in different societies. Some of these films may be based on real-life events or figures, while others are fictional accounts that still capture elements of the Jewish experience.
“The Pianist”, 2002
Director: Roman Polanski
Directed by Roman Polanski, this biographical drama film details the survival of Polish-Jewish pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman during World War II as he struggles to stay alive during the destruction of the Warsaw Ghetto.
Starring: Adrien Brody, Emilia Fox, Daniel Caltagirone, Ed Stoppard, Maureen Lipman, Frank Finlay, Jessica Kate Meyer, Julia Rayner, Thomas Kretschmann, Michał Żebrowski;
Production year: 2002;
Genre: drama, war, biography, music;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 149 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,5;
More information about the film “The Pianist” on the website imdb.com
“Yentl”, 1983
Director: Barbra Streisand
Starring and directed by Barbra Streisand, this musical film follows a young Jewish woman in Poland who dresses as a man to receive an education in Talmudic Law, which was forbidden to women at the time.
Starring: Barbra Streisand, Mandy Patinkin, Amy Irving, Nehemiah Persoff, Steven Hill, Allan Corduner, Ruth Goring, David de Keyser, Bernard Spear, Doreen Mantle;
Production year: 1983;
Genre: musical, drama, melodrama;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 133 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,6;
More information about the film “Yentl” on the website imdb.com
“Exodus”, 2021
Director: Logan Stone
Directed by Otto Preminger and based on the novel by Leon Uris, this film tells the story of the founding of the State of Israel, featuring the struggle of Jewish immigrants to Palestine to create a new homeland.
Starring: Jimi Stanton, Janelle Snow, Charles Andrew Gardner, Hannah Kloepfer, James Lloyd McKinney, Zachary Gossett, Daniel Arana, Keith Jardine, Heini Hamalainen, Grace Barnes;
Production year: 2021;
Genre: science fiction;
Age: 18+;
Duration: 75 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 2,7;
More information about the film “Exodus” on the website imdb.com
“A Serious Man”, 2009
Director: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Directed by the Coen brothers, this dark comedy-drama focuses on a Jewish physics professor whose life begins to unravel, leading him to seek answers from three different rabbis.
Starring: Michael Stuhlbarg, Sari Lennick, Aaron Wolf, Jessica McManus, Richard Kind, Fred Melamed, Simon Helberg, Amy Landecker, George Wyner, Alan Mandell;
Production year: 2009;
Genre: drama, comedy;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 106 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7;
More information about the film “A Serious Man” on the website imdb.com
“The Chosen”, 2017
Director: Dallas Jenkins
Based on the novel by Chaim Potok, this film explores the friendship between two Jewish boys in 1940s Brooklyn, coming from very different backgrounds—one from a Hasidic family, and the other a Zionist.
Starring: Jonathan Roumie, Elizabeth Tabish, Shahar Isaac, Paras Patel, Noah James, George H. Xanthis, Nick Shakoour, Jordan Walker Ross, Giavani Cairo, Shaan Sharma, Joey Vahedi;
Production year: 2017;
Genre: drama, history;
Rating: IMDB: 9,2;
More information about the film “The Chosen” on the website imdb.com
“Inglourious Basterds”, 2009
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Directed by Quentin Tarantino, this fictional war film features a group of Jewish-American soldiers, known as The Basterds, who are on a mission to kill Nazis in German-occupied France during World War II.
Starring: Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Mélanie Laurent, Daniel Brühl, Diane Kruger, Michael Fassbender, August Diehl, Eli Roth, Til Schweiger, Gedeon Burkhard;
Production year: 2009;
Genre: action, drama, comedy, war;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 153 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,4;
More information about the film “Inglourious Basterds” on the website imdb.com
“Europa Europa”, 1990
Director: Agnieszka Holland
A film by Agnieszka Holland, based on a true story, following a young Jewish boy who conceals his identity and joins the Hitler Youth to survive during World War II.
Starring: Solomon Perel, Marco Hofschneider, René Hofschneider, Piotr Kozlowski, Klaus Abramowsky, Michèle Gleizer, Marta Sandrowicz, Nathalie Schmidt, Delphine Forest, Andrzej Mastalerz, Julie Delpy, André Wilms, Ashley Wanninger, Halina Labonarska;
Production year: 1990;
Genre: drama, war, history;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 112 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
More information about the film “Europa Europa” on the website imdb.com
“Judas and the Black Messiah”, 2020
Director: Shaka King
Although not solely focused on Jewish themes, this biographical drama touches on the role of a Jewish FBI informant, who is part of the story revolving around the betrayal and assassination of Fred Hampton, chairman of the Black Panther Party.
Starring: LaKeith Stanfield, Daniel Kaluuya, Jesse Plemons, Dominique Fishback, Ashton Sanders, Algee Smith, Darrell Britt-Gibson, Lil Rel Howery, Dominique Thorne, Martin Sheen;
Production year: 2020;
Genre: biography, drama, history, crime;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 126 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,4;
Please note that while these films include Jewish characters or themes, their representation of Jewish culture and history can vary greatly, and not all may be centered exclusively on Jewish experiences.
In conclusion, films about Jewish life, culture, and history play an invaluable role in preserving and sharing the rich tapestry of Jewish experiences. From the comedic charms of “Annie Hall” to the harrowing depths of “Schindler's List,” these films offer a diverse portrayal of Jewish identities and the multitude of challenges they have faced over time. They educate, provoke thought, and elicit empathy, ultimately serving not just as entertainment but as powerful vehicles for cultural transmission and historical memory. Whether fictional narratives or documentaries, these cinematic works continue to spark important conversations, reflecting the resilience and vibrancy of the Jewish people, and ensuring that the stories of their past and present remain accessible and relevant to audiences around the globe.
