THE KLEZMATICS: ON HOLY GROUND

19th Portland Jewish Film Festival

THE KLEZMATICS: ON HOLY GROUND
DIRECTOR: ERIK ANJOU
US, 2010

Formed in New York City’s East Village in 1986, the Grammy Award-winning Klezmatics have followed many musical paths—from collaboration with the Woody Guthrie family, to projects with Israeli greats Chava Alberstein and Itzhak Perlman, to kosher-gospel sensation Joshua Nelson—but have always fashioned a dynamic bridge between the lost shtetls of Eastern Europe and the Jewish-Yiddish culture’s resurgence and relevance today. Part lively concert performance film, part backstage documentary, Anjou’s (A CANTOR’S TALE) celebratory film follows the band members over four years on the road and at home with their families, as they keep their hybrid musical vision full of fresh energy and engagement. (105 mins.)