Hanukkah film

AHanukkah filmis agenreoffilmin which the main emphasis is on the celebration of theJewish holidayofHanukkah.Films in this style may incorporate the religious aspects of Hanukkah, such as lighting themenorahor the story of theMaccabees,along with cultural aspects of Hanukkah, such as spinningdreidels,or eating traditional foods such aslatkes,sufganiyot,orgelt.

The Hanukkah film genre, such as it exists, is a reflection of the prevalence ofChristmas films,as the two holidays are celebrated during a similar time of year. The most well known films of the genre tend to feature Christmas themed iconography and themes, and are often marketed to Christian audiences to be watched as a Christmas movie. This can be evidenced by themovie poster forEight Crazy Nightswhich prominently features aChristmas tree,areindeer,red and greenChristmas lightsand the tag line "The ultimate battle between naughty and nice", a reference toSanta'slist.

Hanukkah has historically been more commonlyportrayed in television,than in film, due to the relative lower financial risk and cost of production as compared to a feature film and minor importance of Hanukkah as a Jewish holiday.

Notable examples of Hanukkah films

Some notable examples of films in this genre, as well as films featuring Hanukkah, are listed as follows.

An American Tail

Main article:An American Tail

An American Tailis a 1986 Americananimatedmusicalcomedy-dramaadventure filmdirected byDon Bluthand produced bySullivan Bluth Inc.andAmblin Entertainment.The film opens as the family is celebrating Hanukkah in Shostka, Ukraine in 1885, the Mousekewitzes, aRussian-Jewishfamily of mice who live with a human family named Moskowitz, are celebrating the holiday and Papa gives his hat to his 5-year-old son, Fievel, and tells him about the United States, a country where there are no cats. The celebration is interrupted when a battery of Cossacks ride through the village square in an anti-Jewish arson attack and their cats likewise attack the village mice. Because of this, the Moskowitz home, along with that of the Mousekewitzes, is destroyed, and the film tells the story of Fievel Mousekewitz and his family as they emigrate from theImperial Russianterritory ofUkraineto the United States for freedom. However, he gets lost and must find a way to reunite with them.

The Real Shlemiel

Main article:The Real Shlemiel

The Real Shlemiel,alsoAaron's Magic Village(German:Die Schelme von Schelm) is a 1995 European-Israeliadventure-fantasy film.It was released inGermanyand in theUnited Statesin 1997. The story takes place during Hanukkah and the celebration of Hanukkah is a central plot point of the film.The film is based onStories for ChildrenbyIsaac Bashevis Singer.

The film's plot focuses on Aaron, a new arrival to the Polish village ofChelm,and his uncle Shlemiel. An evil sorcerer, Darko, steals from Chelm the magical "Book of Marvels" so that he can create agolemto destroy Chelm. It is up to Aaron and Shlemiel to save the day.

Eight Crazy Nights

Main article:Eight Crazy Nights

Eight Crazy Nightsis a 2002 American adultanimatedmusicalcomedy-dramaHanukkah film directed by Seth Kearsley and produced, co-written by and starringAdam Sandler,in his first voice-acting role. The film is animated in the style of television holiday specials, and, unlike most mainstream holiday films, centers on Jewish characters during theHanukkahseason, as opposed to the Christian celebration ofChristmas.

This is alsoHappy Madison Productions' first animated film. The film's title is taken from a line in Sandler's series of songs called "The Chanukah Song"that compares the gift-giving traditions ofChristmasandChanukah:"Instead of one day of presents, we get eight crazy nights!".Additionally, a new version ofThe Chanukah Songwas played over the film's closing credits. It has been called the best known Hanukkah film.

The Hebrew Hammer

Main article:The Hebrew Hammer

The Hebrew Hammeris a 2003 AmericancomedyHanukkah film written and directed byJonathan Kesselman.It starsAdam Goldberg,Judy Greer,Andy Dick,Mario Van Peebles,andPeter Coyote.The plot concerns aJewishblaxploitationcrime fighter known as the Hebrew Hammer who must saveHanukkahfrom the evil son ofSanta Claus,who wants to destroy Hanukkah andKwanzaaand make everyone celebrateChristmas.

Full-Court Miracle

Main article:Full-Court Miracle

Full-Court Miracleis a 2003Disney Channel OriginalHanukkah Movie. It premiered on November 21, 2003. Inspired by the true story ofUniversity of VirginiaCavaliersbasketballstar Lamont Carr, the film centers on a group of youngJewishbasketball players during the Hanukkah season who are determined to find their ownJudah Macabeeto coach their team and help their team out of a slump. The main character Alex Schlotsky is inspired by the true story of Chad Korpeck and Alex Barbag. The film makes numerous references to themiracle of the oil,with the school's electricity staying on even though it was being powered by a gas generator with only enough fuel for one hour instead of the eight hours the game lasted. The film concludes with Rabbi Lewis (a fictional character in the film) telling the story ofHanukkahand its relation to the basketball game plays over the scene.

Call Me by Your Name

Main article:Call Me by Your Name (film)

Call Me by Your Name(Italian:Chiamami col tuo nome) is a 2017coming-of-ageromantic dramafilm directed byLuca Guadagnino.Its screenplay, byJames Ivory,who also co-produced, is based on the2007 eponymous novelbyAndré Aciman.The film is the final installment in Guadagnino's thematic "Desire" trilogy, afterI Am Love(2009), andA Bigger Splash(2015). Set in 1983 in northern Italy,Call Me by Your Namechronicles the romantic relationship between a 17-year-old,Elio Perlman(Timothée Chalamet), and Oliver (Armie Hammer), a 24-year-old graduate-student assistant to Elio's father Samuel (Michael Stuhlbarg), an archaeology professor. The two develop a rapport and bond over music, their shared Jewish identities, and their attraction to each other. What lands this romantic coming-of-age flick on this list is the film's epilogue. Months after the intense romance has blossomed and run its course, Elio receives a phone call from Oliver, where he announces to Elio's family that he has just gotten engaged. Still harboring passionate feelings for Oliver, Elio walks into the dining room and stares at the roaring fire in the fireplace as his parents set the table for their dinner on the last night of Hanukkah. The film also stars actressesAmira Casar,Esther Garrel,andVictoire Du Bois.

Hanukkah

Hanukkahis a 2019 horror film written and directed by Eben McGarr. Father and son serial killers (played bySid Haigas Judah Lazarus and Joe Knetter as Obediah Lazarus) who believe God has sent them the commandment to kill anyone who would harm Jews or Jews whom fail to properly practice their faith. Horrifyingly, after the psychotic killer hunts and kills his victim, he leaves behind a Star of David inscription in the body of his dead victims. The killer lights another candle in the menorah for each kill he makes in this "Festival of Frights". The film is one of the few Jewish horror films and is probably the first Hanukkah horror film, making it a notable entry in the horror genre.

Love, Lights, Hanukkah!

Love, Lights, Hanukkah!is a 2020 Hallmark romantic comedy directed by Mark Jean and written by Karen Berger. Christina Rossi (played byMia Kirshner) takes a DNA test that reveals that she is unexpectedly 50% Jewish. Eager to learn about her Jewish culture, Christina meets her birth mother Ruth Berman (played byMarilu Henner) and discovers the joys of latkes, menorahs, and kugel and an unexpected romance with David Singer (played byBen Savage). The film was acknowledged byInsideras Hallmark's first genuine Hanukkah film.

See also

• Hanukkah in television
• Hanukkah