3 Food Films to see at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival

TORONTO JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL

The Toronto Jewish Film Festival runs from May 3-13, 2018 and I had a chance to review 3 of the food related films showing at the festival this week. 

The one thing all 3 of these films have in common is the sharing of food and the connection between people and how it develops community and family with the people sharing the food.  From a drama to a couple of fun documentary short films, food is at the centre of the heart of these films but maybe not the most important thing.

The Cakemaker (Drama)

May 9th - 8:30PM

Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk 9

The Cakemaker

Country: Germany, Israel
Year: 2017  Running Time: 104 min.
Language: Hebrew, German, English Subtitles: English
Director: Ofir Raul Graizer
Cast:  Tim Kalkhof, Sarah Adler, Roy Miller

The Cakemaker is a man who works in a cafe in Berlin who meets a customer from Jerusalem who works in Berlin.  They develop a relationship but the man from Jerusalem also has a family in Jerusalem.  The man returns to Jerusalem but there is an accident that changes a series of events for the Cakemaker and the Berlin man's family.  This is a story of bonding through food, family, truth, loyalty and following one's passion. This is a very interesting story with religious customs being at the centre of the conflict but with a hidden secret hanging over it.

Bella! Did Ya Eat?: The Story of Judy Perly and Free Times Cafe (Documentary)

 May 10 - 3:30PM

Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk 9

&

May 13 - 2:30PM

Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema

 Judy Perly has owned the Free Times Cafe for decades and is a staple fixture of the Toronto restaurant scene.  She is funny, and has tenacity to keep her restaurant going through tough times and to build a community along the way.

		Wendy's Shabbat (Documentary) Country: United States Year: 2017  Running Time 10 min. Language: English Director: Rachel Myers Cast:  Gussman Gerri, Sharon & Michael Goodman, Roberta Mahler, Lou Silberman, Barrister Winston, Rabbi Isaiah Zeldin
		A group of seniors decide that they should have their Friday Shabbat dinner at their local Wendy's Restaurant and with a very accomodating Manager's permission it becomes a regular friday night Shabbat that grows and develops into a gathering place for new and old friends to pray and break bread, literally.  They laugh and bond over Challah and enjoy their weekly Shabbat dinners together. For more information and for the Film Schedule check out the  TJFF Website at: https://tjff.com/

Films for Foodies

My first short film was called Potluck.  I figured I would make a film that combined my love of food and entertaining in a short film.   It didn't turn out exactly as I planned but it was a fun experience.

The NFB has a bunch of Films for Foodies online that you can watch here:

http://blog.nfb.ca/blog/2012/10/11/5-nfb-films-for-foodies/?ec=en20121010&utm_campaign=113004_NFB_Films_2012-10-10_&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NFB-All_Recipients

Some other Foodie films you can check out if you can find them are:

Hiro dreams of Sushi
Big Night
Chocolat
Babette's Feast
Julie and Julia
Supersize Me
Ratatouille
Sideways
Eat Pray Love
What's Cooking
No Reservations
The Mistress of Spices
Woman on Top
Mystic Pizza
Soul Food
El Bulli: Cooking in Progress
Food Inc.
Forks over Knives