The new documentary, to be released this weekend, “Queen 93” is a trailblazing look at an otherwise closed community, namely the Hasidic community of Boro Park, Brooklyn. The filmmaker, director, producer and crew remained respectful throughout the filming of the community’s religious beliefs and practices. Sharing films through a Jewish lens is what makes the LA Jewish Film Festival so unique and special. The film opens this week at select Laemmle Theatres throughout the country and also soon on PBS.
In a Q&A following the screening I attended, director Paula Eiselt stated that it all started when she came across this story 6 years ago on the internet, about how the emergency organization Hatzolah banned women, and this amazing woman, Ruchie Freier (now a civic Judge in Brooklyn) was the leader of a group of Hasidic women, so defiant, who wouldn’t take no for an answer . The film would break the negative stereotypes of Hasidic women and be a sanctification to portray another side, capturing women in a most natural and multi dimensional way, shown in the house (cooking , cleaning , cutting their children’s hair ; as well as working as professionals in the outside world as doctors , lawyers, judges and even forming a women’s EMT force , called Ezrat Nashim (helping women). The film focuses on the true life story of Ruchie Freier, who organized this amazing group of dedicated women, and answered the very first emergency call (delivery of a baby )of Ezrat Nashim. She said “I won’t stop until we get our very first purple ambulance, to expand even further outside our community.” Can it happen here in LA?, asked one hopeful audience member . States Freier, “as long as you have a group of determined women, it can happen anywhere.” A new branch has started outside of Boro Park, Brooklyn, now in Stern College, Manhattan. Ruchie Freier’s daughter Leah says she has learned so much from her hardworking, ambitious, passionate mother, watching her and admiring her despite all odds and obstacles. “There’s always so much going on in our home, from parties, to meetings , to hard work, and to being filmed!” Despite hardships, come wonderful rewards. The filmmaking process itself had a lot of ups and downs to attain support (mirroring much of what the Ezrat Nashim organization faced!). It was a challenge to film in this insular community and the crew had to sometimes be almost ‘invisible‘ when doing the job. It’s a new thing for Boro Park, and people who’ve seen the trailer are quite excited. Of particular special note was the music by Laura Karpman, almost like the “Greek chorus and core of the film.” The woman’s voice singing Eshet Chayil (A woman of valor) at end of film was female vocalist Perl Wolfe, best known as founder and lead singer of Bulletproof Stockings, an all female Hasidic rock band in Crown Heights. Much like other films featuring women trailblazers (RGB, about Ruth Bader Ginsberg; and Seeing Allred, about Gloria Allred), this film is a work of genius about a remarkable woman of valor.
http://www.lajfilmfest.org
http://www.93queen.com
world of entertainment, and the deep, internal probing of a writer leads us, the audience, to further understand and empathize with Danna. And yet, when we see her sing, dance, and act on stage, it’s almost as if we’re visualizing an older version of Rebecca, brought back to life, as it were, getting a glimpse of the future she was so sadly never able to experience. And, when at the end, a picture is flashed on screen, of the vibrant Rebecca, this amazing journey comes to full fruition. The statement at the beginning of the play, “we were so happy, the three of us…” resonates throughout and reminds us of the great writers Sylvia Plath and Anne Frank, whose lives, respectively, were slipped away, yet leaving a rich legacy by those who survived. Even though it seems like we are all traversing through mid-air; mid-life; mid-madness; we must fight like warriors to express our inner angst and soul. All of the elements that went into making this most professional production are dazzling, especially direction by Julie Akers, lighting by Katelan Braymer, and sound design by Phil Johnson. This show is definitely among best of the Fringe ‘18.
After receiving my own thyroid cancer diagnosis earlier this past December, I knew that this year’s Concern Foundation annual block party fundraiser for cancer research would be even more inspiring, personal, and meaningful on so many levels. The theme of super heroes was in and of itself unique and larger than life, honoring the foundation’s many angels and super heroes, researchers, donors, and volunteers who sustain and grow the organization to what it has become today. This year Dr Jay and Kris Calvert and family were the deserving honorees. Each privileged guest was given a bright colored silken cape upon entrance, setting a magical mystical mood and aura as we arrived. To start off the evening with a nourishing ‘taste’ of La Cienega’s Blvd’s famed restaurant row, I tried an assortment of Brasílian delicacies from Fogo de Chao, along with exquisite teriyaki beef skewers from Gyu Kaku, washed down with refreshing lime mojitos from El Floridita Cuban Supper Club. The customary lineup of people notes the perennial popularity of vendor ‘California Sushi Academy,’ serving up customized orders to happy guests. One personal favorite of mine is the Pasquini Espresso Co. cart, with a latte or cappuccino (hot or iced), perfectly blended. As guests meandered throughout the backlot of Paramount Studios, they were pampered and treated to spa services, including, glitter tattoos, hair re-do’s & manicures, courtesy of the Beauty Bus Foundation, an incredible organization, whose noble mission is to provide beauty and grooming treatments to the chronically/terminally ill and their caregivers. Amidst the ‘tons’ of delicious samplings, it was quite literally refreshing to sip and savor Tito’s Handmade Vodka & Reed’s Ginger Brew, along with learning more about the healthy, organic home delivery service of “Farm Fresh To You.” To round off the night with scrumptious dessert, some standouts were “The Gluten Free Goddess Bakery,” “DeLuscious Cookies and Milk,” “BuzzBars,” and “The Frygirl” mini donuts.
