Category Arts & Culture

Dementia in film, the sequel

image - Lance Henriksen, left, and Viggo Mortensen in Falling

Lance Henriksen, left, and Viggo Mortensen in Falling. (photo from indiewire.com) In February 2016, the Jewish Independent published my column “Dementia, cinema’s darling,” in which I reviewed seven films about people struggling with dementia. Well, here we go again! This…

Making a film during COVID

screenshot - Kamil Whaley-Kalaora stars as the title character in Malka Martz-Oberlander’s David Michael Frankel Feinstein-Goldberg and the Unbarmitzvah

Kamil Whaley-Kalaora stars as the title character in Malka Martz-Oberlander’s David Michael Frankel Feinstein-Goldberg and the Unbarmitzvah. (screenshot) It was a rainy day near the beginning of the pandemic. Sourdough was in the oven, Zoom was new and fun and…

Interactive history tour

screenshot - To find out more about the history of Made in BC – Dance on Tour and its network of artists, visitors to madeinbc.org/history-project just have to hover over one of the images displayed and click on it

To find out more about the history of Made in BC – Dance on Tour and its network of artists, visitors to madeinbc.org/history-project just have to hover over one of the images displayed and click on it. (screenshot) It is…

From a singular perspective

photo - Barb Choit’s “Ravenous Appetite and Boundless Energy” features a chimney swift that can only be recognized as such from one vantage point

Barb Choit’s “Ravenous Appetite and Boundless Energy” features a chimney swift that can only be recognized as such from one vantage point. (photo from Barb Choit) Last October, in a year that could be considered one of the worst in…

Chai Quilt grows and changes

photo - Chai Quilt at Zack Gallery #1

When I first entered the Zack Gallery to view its new show, the Chai Quilt, my first impression was that it was an amateur show. Only one wall of the gallery featured art, and it looked like the work of…

Worshipping with joy

On May 2, Kolot Mayim Reform Temple in Victoria welcomes singer, songwriter, teacher, music producer and cantorial soloist Len Udow to speak on Worship with Joy. Drawing on both secular and cantorial music, Udow will recall his journey from 1960s…

Memoir, tribute, history

photo - Actor Tovah Feldshuh talks about her new book, Lilyville, on April 15, in an event held in partnership with the JCC Jewish Book Festival

Actor Tovah Feldshuh talks about her new book, Lilyville, on April 15, in an event held in partnership with the JCC Jewish Book Festival. (PR photo) The long-awaited Cherie Smith JCC Jewish Book Festival closing night event – Tovah Feldshuh…

Dance-opera closer to final

photo - Ted Littlemore is one of seven dancers in the latest iteration of Idan Cohen’s Orfeo ed Euridice, which will be available online April 6-13

Ted Littlemore is one of seven dancers in the latest iteration of Idan Cohen’s Orfeo ed Euridice, which will be available online April 6-13. (photo by Flick Harrison) The first article the Jewish Independent published about choreographer and opera director…

R2R fest teaches, entertains

still - Seu Jorge, left, and Noah Schnapp in a still from Abe

Seu Jorge, left, and Noah Schnapp in a still from Abe. (image from Reel 2 Real) The upcoming Reel 2 Real International Film Festival for Youth is not just for youth, though younger viewers are its target audience. There are…

A great-grandmother’s song

photo - Jesse Waldman was inspired by his great-grandmother Adele Waldman to reimagine the Yiddish song “Papirosen”

Jesse Waldman was inspired by his great-grandmother Adele Waldman to reimagine the Yiddish song “Papirosen.” (photo from Jesse Waldman) Several weeks ago, I was offered a commission by the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts to do a musical piece for…