Courtesy photo
Liron Levo is Eyal and Lubna Azabal is Rana in “Strangers,” a love story about a Palestinian woman and a Jewish an being screened as part of the Las Vegas Jewish Film Festival.
Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009 | 12:01 a.m.
It's the perfect time for a love story about a Palestinian woman and a Jewish man, said Nancy Weinberger, executive director of Congregation Ner Tamid, in Henderson.
And the poignant thing about "Strangers," showing at 7 p.m. Jan. 22 for the 8th Annual Las Vegas Jewish Film Festival, is it has a happy ending, she said.
Weinberger hopes that locals see this timely movie, especially with the recent escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"It talks to the challenges faced when you're in love with somebody but they have a different political point-of-view," she said.
Congregation Ner Tamid Rabbi Sanford Akselrad will lead a discussion after the film.
"Strangers" is one of 13 films showing as part of the festival, Jan. 17 to Feb. 1, said organizer Josh Abbey. "Strangers" will show in the Cinemark Theaters at the South Point.
"Our goal is to encourage the non-Jewish community to take advantage of the festival," Abbey said. "These are important films that could appeal to everyone who loves great films."
Twelve of the films are Nevada premieres. Three of the films free: "Au Revoir Les Enfants," a 1988 Oscar-nominated foreign language film; "Nina's Journey," best picture in Sweden 2008; and "Arranged," which is the other film playing at South Point, at 7 p.m. Jan. 29. Tickets for all other films are $10.
Abbey said "Strangers" and "Arranged" show a strong parallel: The culture interaction between Muslims and Jews. "Arranged" tells of the friendship between an Orthodox Jewish woman and a Muslim woman who are both facing arranged marriages.
The festival is produced by Desert Space Foundation and the Jewish Community Center of Southern Nevada. Showings are at Cinemark Theaters, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. South, the Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Educational Campus Performing Arts Center, 9700 W. Hillpointe Road, 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].
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