Beth-El’s annual film fest features healing power of music

The Joanne Forman Film Festival presents three Sundays of films each year, with moderated  discussions and refreshments at Temple Beth-El in Providence.  This year’s theme is “The Healing Power of Music.”

March 25 kicks off the festival with the 2016 documentary, “Who’s Gonna Love Me Now.” After learning he is HIV positive, Saar, an ex-Israeli paratrooper and member of the London Gay Men’s Chorus, attempts to reconcile with his religious family in Israel. Tonya Glantz, director of the Institute for Education and Non-Violence, leads the discussion after the film.

April 8 features “The Band’s Visit” a 2007 drama about a band of eight members of the Egyptian police force that travels to Israel to play at a concert and finds itself lost in the wrong Israeli town. The movie is now a Broadway play. The post-film discussion is led by educator Paula Davidson-Bodo.

April 15 features “East Jerusalem/West Jerusalem” a 2014 documentary that follows Israeli singer-songwriter David Broza as he records an album in East Jerusalem with American, Palestinian and Israeli musicians and attempts to open a dialogue about the Middle East conflict. The discussion after the film is led by Mike Fink, professor at the Rhode Island School of Design.

Sponsored by the Sisterhood of Temple Beth-El, the film festival has taken place for 17 years and was originally co-chaired by Joanne Forman. Several years ago, it was named in her memory, according to current chair Ellen Silverman.

“Joanne was a generous, giving volunteer,” Silverman said in a 2016 interview. “Everyone loved her.” And, Silverman said, she cared deeply about the temple.

All films screen at 2 p.m. in the Meeting Hall of the temple, 70 Orchard Ave., Providence. Admission is free and refreshments are included.

FRAN OSTENDORF (fostendorf@jewishallianceri.org)  is the editor of The Jewish Voice.