On Stage At Kingsborough Presents: JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL
ROSENSTRASSE & THE BOOK THIEF
Q&A with the Screenwriter & Cinematographer
Edited by: TJVNews.com
On Stage At Kingsborough, a leading performing arts presenter in Brooklyn, is pleased to present two moving and beautiful films that reveal lesser-known stories and human truths of the Holocaust. A virtual q&a with Pamela Katz, Co-Screenwriter for “Rosenstrasse” and Florian Ballhaus, ASC, Cinematographer for “The Book Thief” will take place at the conclusion of the On Demand screening period.
“We are proud to be able to present this unique Jewish Film Festival, revisiting the artistry and important messages these films hold. The ability to talk with leading artists from each film will afford us unique insights into the films and the creative process for each,” said Anna Becker, Executive Director of On Stage At Kingsborough.
ROSENSTRASSE (On Demand February 22-28)
Directed by Margarethe von Trotta
Screenplay by Margarethe von Trotta and Pamela Katz
In the cold Berlin winter of 1943, hundreds of Aryan women stood, and waited, in defiance of the Nazis who had suddenly imprisoned their Jewish husbands and children in a factory on a street named Rosenstrasse. While countless Jews had already been sent to concentration camps for execution, Jewish husbands of Aryan wives had, until then, been allowed to survive because of their mixed marriage. Suddenly, every single Jew in Berlin was threatened with deportation. Their wives, who had lost almost everything, refused to accept this final blow. On that street these women stood in protest, in the name of love until they were reunited with their men. This is the striking story of Rosenstrasse: where the power of the human will stands inconquerable. Featuring Maria Schrader (Emmy Award, “Unorthodox”) and multi-award-winning actresses Katja Riemann and Jutta Lampe.
Running Time: 2 hr 16 min. In German and English, with English subtitles.
THE BOOK THIEF (On Demand February 15-28)
Directed by Brian Percival (“Downton Abbey”)
Cinematography by Florian Ballhaus, ASC
In 1938, young orphan Liesel (Sophie Nélisse) arrives at the home of her new foster parents, Hans (Oscar, Emmy & Tony Award-winner Geoffrey Rush) and Rosa (Oscar-Nominee Emily Watson). When Hans, a kindly housepainter, learns that Liesel cannot read, he teaches the child the wonders of the written language. Liesel grows to love books, even rescuing one from a Nazi bonfire. Though Liesel’s new family barely scrape by, their situation becomes even more precarious when they secretly shelter a Jewish boy whose father once saved Hans’ life.
Running Time: 2 hr 15 min, in English.
TICKETING INFORMATION
A festival ticket includes access to view “Rosenstrasse” and “The Book Thief,” and attend the interactive Zoom discussion with Pamela Katz and Florian Ballhaus.
Tickets are available on a “pay what you can” basis, with a suggested price of $15, as follows:
Online:
https://ci.ovationtix.com/35698/production/1036795
By Phone:
(718) 368-5596 (due to the current health crisis, calls will be returned within 24 hours on weekdays).
ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
Pamela Katz is a screenwriter most known for her work with legendary director, Margarethe von Trotta, including “Hannah Arendt” (One of The New York Times critic A.O. Scott’s top ten films), “Rosenstrasse,” “The Other Woman,” and “Forget About Nick.” Other films include “Remembrance,” starring David Rasche, and an original comedy, “Home Sweet Home.” She is currently writing “Kasztner’s Ark,” which tells the controversial story of Rezso Kasztner, the Hungarian Zionist who agreed to trade 10,000 trucks for the lives of one million Jews. His so-called “deal with the devil” is furiously debated until today. As an author, she has published essays and articles, as well as the book, The Partnership: Brecht, Weill, Three Women and Germany on the Brink, published by Doubleday/Nan A. Talese. The New Yorker proclaimed “Katz restores the women to their proper place in the story, with levity, strong characterization, and beguiling descriptions of an interwar German milieu crackling with politics, art, and a sense of possibility.” Ms. Katz is an Adjunct Professor of screenwriting at the NYU/Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Film program.
Florian Ballhaus was born in Germany, and began his career in America at the age of 16. He started out working as a second camera assistant for his father, the renowned cinematographer Michael Ballhaus, and worked his way up in the industry to second unit cinematographer with directors like Martin Scorsese, James L. Brooks, and Mike Nichols. He began his own career as a cinematographer in 1997, shooting his first American feature films with directors such as Alan Rudolph (Secret Lives of Dentists) and Adam Brooks (Definitely, Maybe.) He enjoys close collaborations with director David Frankel (5 films including The Devil Wears Prada); Robert Schwentke (7 films including Flightplan and “The Captain.”). The critically acclaimed “The Captain” won a cinematography award at the San Sebastian Film Festival as well as the 2018 German Camera Award.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER:
On Stage At Kingsborough (OSK) brings artistically and culturally diverse, multidisciplinary performances from masters of the form to the varied communities within and surrounding Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn. We strive to create an environment where the arts are an accessible and integral part of life, and the Arts Center is a community gathering place for interaction and inspiration. From October to May, we present world class dance, cabaret, theatre, music, and family performances in the Leon M. Goldstein Performing Arts Center, and notable jazz musicians in an intimate and elegant nightclub setting with wine, cheese, and floor-to-ceiling ocean views as part of the Jazz At The Lighthouse series in Kingsborough’s Lighthouse. Our Hot Summer Nights! free outdoor concert series at Kingsborough’s Lighthouse bandshell takes place every Saturday evening in July. Our school-time shows welcome classes from local public and private schools, a majority of which serves economically-disadvantaged or special needs populations. The spring 2021 season reflects our commitment to present a broad range of world-class artists in exclusive virtual engagements. We will return to live performances when the prevailing science deems it is safe to do so.
For the most up-to-date scheduling and line-up for all programming, including video previews, follow OSK via the below links for information.
Website: http://www.onstageatkingsborough.org
Twitter: @OnStageAtKCC
Facebook: On Stage At Kingsborough
