Where boxing and religion meet

By Becky Bosshart

Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009 | midnight

The film "Orthodox Stance" follows Jewish boxer Dmitriy Salita for three years as he reconciles his professional fighting career with his religious devotion.

In 80 minutes, a Las Vegas Jewish Film Festival audience will see just how the boxer keeps his orthodox stance. The title of the 2006 documentary is the boxing term for traditional, or right-handed, fighting. It's also how Salita lives life. The film shows at 7 p.m. Jan. 18 at the Adelson School Performing Arts Center as part of the 8th annual film festival.

"Our goal is to encourage the non-Jewish community to take advantage of the festival," said festival organizer Josh Abbey. "These are important films that could appeal to everyone who loves great films."

Contrasts are expected in "Orthodox Stance," but it also shows the analogous discipline needed for sports and religion. Salita is shown in rigorous training sessions, as well as in-depth torah studies. The boxer follows the austere ritual of laying tefillin, which is the wrapping of black leather strips around the arms. The scene then cuts to a trainer wrapping Salita's arms in tape for practice.

"I think it shows the way a person tries to balance life between religion and his career," said Rabbi Shea Harlig of Chabad of Southern Nevada, who is moderating the film. "Some people put their career ahead of everything. And that's the most important thing here is we see a young man who didn't put his own personal ambition above his commitment to his religion and God."

"Orthodox Stance" is one of 13 films showing in the valley as part of the Jan. 17 to Feb. 1 festival. Parts of the documentary were filmed at Las Vegas fights. It also features local fight promoter Bob Arum, who will attend the movie's discussion along with Salita. Twelve of the films are Nevada premieres.

All of the films will feature a commentary and audience discussion. Three are free: "Au Revoir Les Enfants," a 1988 Oscar-nominated foreign language film; "Nina's Journey," best picture in Sweden 2008; and "Arranged." Tickets for all other films are $10.

Abbey said one of the highlights of the festival is "Blessed is the Match," a documentary feature about Hannah Senesh, the World War II-era poet and diarist who became a paratrooper and resistance fighter. The film is on the Academy Award short list for best documentary feature. It shows at 4 p.m. Jan. 19 at the Adelson School Performing Arts Center.

The festival is produced by Desert Space Foundation and the Jewish Community Center of Southern Nevada. Showings are at the Adelson Educational Campus Performing Arts Center, 9700 W. Hillpointe Road, Cinemark Theaters in the South Point, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. South, and the historic Fifth Street School, 401 S. Fourth St.

For tickets, venue directions and show times visit www.desertspace.org or call 794-0090.

Becky Bosshart can be reached at 990-7748 or [email protected].