Film Studies

Is Eat Drink Man Woman Really a Jewish Film?

with Professor Louis Friedler

Saturday, October 20, 2012,  7:00 pm Havdalah, 7:15 Movie, 9:30 Discussion

When Ang Lee and James Schamus, the co-authors of the screenplay for Eat Drink Man Woman, went to Taipei to prepare for the film, Schamus brought Lee a first draft. Lee thought it wasn't “Chinese" enough, so Schamus re-imagined all the names as Jewish and rewrote the script with these characters in mind. When he brought it back, Lee thought it was much more Chinese. Is this film about Chinese, Jewish, or universal values?

We will begin with a brief introduction to traditional Chinese values, watch the film, and then discuss it, briefly noting that it has been re-made as Tortilla Soup, set in Southern California.

Gefilte Flicks:  Everything is Illuminated - flyer

Presented by the Social Action Committee

Saturday, November 3, 2012  7:00 pm