Masha Leon
By Masha Leon
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The Schmooze Christian Petzold Reflects on His Holocaust Revenge Film, ‘Phoenix’
Christian Petzold’s “Phoenix,” a beautifully crafted film noir, is one of two relatively recent Holocaust-related films that showcases revenge exacted with gusto by Jewish women characters — the other being Quentin Tarantino’s gory 2009 World War II action flick, ”Inglourious Basterds.” A fascinating, welcome addition to the post WWII cinema arena, “Phoenix” is an unfolding mystery…
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The Schmooze A Chat With Nadav Lapid, Director of ‘The Kindergarten Teacher’
I looked forward to the interview with ”The Kindergarten Teacher”’s Israeli filmmaker writer/director Nadav Lapid when he arrived the day before the July 31st opening of his somewhat autobiographical film. I had so many questions about the 5-year-old poet savant Yoav (intensely portrayed by Avi Shnaidman) and the obsessed-with-his-genius kindergarten teacher the sensitive, seductive Nira…
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The Schmooze Remembering Samuel Pisar, Holocaust Survivor and Tortured Soul
I first met Samuel Pisar, Holocaust survivor, lawyer, and presidential advisor who died on July 27 at 86, at the December 4, 1988 Israel Bonds International Elie Wiesel Holocaust Remembrance Award Dinner at the New York Hilton at which he was the honoree. Applauded by 1,100 guests, Pisar — with wife Judith Pisar at his side…
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The Schmooze David Strathairn Channels Holocaust Hero Jan Karski
Having known Polish World War II hero Jan Karski, I watched a gaunt Oscar-nominated David Strathairn amazingly bring to life this Catholic Holocaust messenger to the free world in the Jan Karski Theater Project’s “My Report to the World” by Clark Young and Derek Goldman showcased at The Museum of Jewish Heritage — A Living Memorial…
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The Schmooze Remembering E.L. Doctorow, ‘Ragtime’ Literary Lion
E.L. Doctorow, who died on July 21 at age 84, was among the literary lions I chatted with at the 1975 American Booksellers Association Convention at the New York Hilton — at which my husband Joe and I were publisher-exhibitors. It was the year Random House published his mega-hit novel “Ragtime.” Decades later, at the April…
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The Schmooze Remembering My Friend, Theo Bikel
Theodore Bikel, actor, activist, Yiddishist, and multi-lingual folksinger — who died on July 21 at 91 — has had a “home” in my piano bench since the 1960s where his well-thumbed “Folksongs and Footnotes” tome rests, as do his vintage recordings on my shelves. I first met Bikel on March 5, 1978 when he was the guest…
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The Schmooze Sophie Tucker As You’ve Never Seen Her Before
Could not wait to chat with Susan and Lloyd Ecker producers/writers of the delightful, juicy documentary “The Outrageous Sophie Tucker.” Theirs is an illuminating journey with this groundbreaking sexy, uncensored, zaftig — and proud of it — entertainer who wowed the world from 1907 to 1966 whom I knew only from archival film clips and The…
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The Schmooze ‘Moses Man’ — A Holocaust Musical of Teens on The Run
“Moses Man,” a musical about a family’s 9-year-long World War II survival odyssey that took them on a sanctuary search from Vienna, to Cyprus, Palestine and Africa before finally landing in America, has enough “now you’re safe, now you’re not!” twists and turns to justify being dubbed a Holocaust musical thriller. With book and lyrics…
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