12:00 - Toronto Jewish Film Festival

FILM LISTFILM LISTCHEZ SCHWARTZTORONTO PREMIERECANADA 2006, 83 minDirector: Gary BeitelThu. May 10 5:15pm BCCLOSE TO HOMETORONTO PREMIEREISRAEL 2005, 90 minHebrewDirectors: Vidi Bilu, Dalia HagerWed. May 9 7:00pm BCThu. May 10 8:30pm SGCertain to make even vegetarians crave asmoked meat sandwich, this loving tributeto the Montreal institution, Schwartz’s Deli,takes a nostalgic look back at the famedrestaurant’s 79 year history. Compiling interviewswith current and past staffers, devotedcustomers and a colourful array of neighbourhoodcharacters, including the late animator,Ryan Larkin, director Gary Beitel returns tothe Festival to give audiences a delightfullyentertaining and rich cultural portrait of Montreal.You may also see some familiar facesamongst the throngs of devoted patrons.It is rare that a debut film comes along thatis so assured and impeccably paced as VidiBilu and Dalia Hager’s timely and passionateClose to Home. The film explores the nuancesand intricacies of friendship, against apolitically charged backdrop, as it follows twovery different young Israeli women who patrolJerusalem streets as part of their militaryservice. In the process, they find that, despitethe uniforms, they are just young people tryingto find their place in the world.Guests: Producer Richard Elson andFrank Silva and others from Schwartz’s Deli.To contact the director of this film visit tjff.comGenerously sponsored by:AG AL GREEN THEATRE · BC BLOOR CINEMA · SG SHEPPARD GRANDE · PROGRAMME 17