The JCC Chicago 9th annual Spring Festival, running March 10 – 27, includes 18 films streaming online and in-theaters that are largely about relationships. These relationships are at the core of the film line-up that ranges from light-hearted rom-coms such as “One More Story” to family discoveries of loss and rebirth in “Letters from Brno” and the intricacies of navigating the mother-daughter bond in “Come Find Me,” starring Tovah Feldshuh.
“One of the places where relationships are powerfully illustrated is in film, and at the same time, the act of watching film brings people together, creating conversations, and community,” says Ilene Uhlmann, Director of the JCC Chicago Jewish Film Festival.
Additional films include “Finding Manny,” a documentary about the inspiring connection between an Indersdorf child and the researcher who has been scouring the world for him, narrated by Steven Baldwin. In the drama “Neighbours” a young boy learns that relationships he treasures can be cut short by the anger of politicians, and friendships in a retirement community are tested in the comedy “Greener Pastures” as residents navigate the difficulties of aging and finances when a broke widower starts selling cannabis.
Relationships may not always be positive as seen in the dramatic thriller “The Man in the Basement” about a Jewish family in Paris who sell their basement to a seemingly needy older man. The Chicago Premiere of the satire “The Un-word” focuses on a Jewish student who is goaded into a schoolyard brawl and “Plan A,” based on the true story of Jewish vigilantes who plot Holocaust revenge by infiltrating German water companies to poison the drinking water.
Hillary Wenk, Co-Director of the festival says, “I have missed being out in the community, visiting with old friends and forming new relationships. Film is a peaceful connector, allowing for deep discussions and mutual understanding.”
Films will be shown in-theater on Sundays during the festival at the Illinois Holocaust Museum, the Music Box Theatre, Landmark’s Renaissance Place Cinema and the Wilmette Theatre.
Specially priced festival passes are on-sale for a limited time; individual tickets are $15 apiece. Many films include post-film discussions with filmmakers and subject matter experts and are included in the ticket price. Tickets for in-theater showings are only available online.
To see the line-up of films and to join the festival experience, please visit, jccfilmfest.org.