Jews on Film: Exploring Jewish Stories & Themes in Cinema

Daniel Zana & Harry Ottensoser
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Daniel Zana & Harry Ottensoser discuss films of all types to investigate what truly makes a film Jewish. Covering everything from Fiddler on the Roof to Uncut Gems, they finish each episode by ranking the film’s production, content, and themes on a scale of 1 to 5 Jewish stars. Listen each week to find out!

  1. 15H AGO

    The Princess Bride w/ Michael Lukk Litwak

    Harry and Daniel dive into the swashbuckling fairy tale classic The Princess Bride with filmmaker and special guest Michael Lukk Litwak, director of Molli and Max in the Future. Directed by Rob Reiner and written by legendary screenwriter William Goldman (adapting his own novel), The Princess Bride is a story of fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love—and, yes, miracles. But it’s also something more: a distinctly Jewish-inflected fairy tale wrapped in the rhythms of a grandfather’s bedtime story. Harry, Daniel, and Michael explore Goldman’s wry, self-aware storytelling voice, Reiner’s humanistic direction, and how the film balances sincerity and satire without ever winking too hard. They unpack Mandy Patinkin’s unforgettable turn as Inigo Montoya, the comedic brilliance of Wallace Shawn and Billy Crystal, and the film’s surprising emotional depth beneath all the quotable lines. Together, they ask: What makes this fairy tale feel so grounded? How does Jewish humor shape the film’s tone? And why has The Princess Bride endured as a generational touchstone for audiences who can quote it line for line? As you wish… it’s an episode about storytelling, myth-making, and why true love (and a good screenplay) conquers all. The Princess Bride TrailerThe Princess Bride in IMDB Michael's Links Follow Michael on InstagramWatch Molli and Max in the Future Connect with Jews on Film online: Jews on Film Merch - https://jews-on-film.printify.me/productsInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpodYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilmTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod

    1h 18m

  2. FEB 5

    After Hours w/ Nabil Ayers (Re-Release)

    Daniel and Harry welcome Nabil Ayers - music industry entrepreneur, podcaster, musician, and author to discuss Martin Scorsese's 1985 dark comedy "After Hours" starring Griffin Dunne, Rosanna Arquette, and Linda Fiorentino. They discuss SoHo in the 1980s, Scorsese’s exploration of temptation and punishment, how this film fits into the "Yuppie Nightmare" canon of films alongside others like "Fatal Attraction" and "American Psycho,” and how tough it was to get into a walkup apartment when the buzzer wasn't working. As always, they end the episode by ranking the film’s Jewishness in terms of its cast & crew, content, and themes. IMDb - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088680/ Trailer - https://youtu.be/LQRawYZl-ls Joe Frank's NPR Monologue that partially inspired "After Hours"- https://youtu.be/MIG636ri4r8 Check out Nabil's podcast, Identified Check out Nabil’s book - My Life in The Sunshine Connect with Jews on Film online: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpod YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilm TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod

    1h 25m

  3. JAN 15

    When Harry Met Sally with Temim Fruchter (Re-Release)

    This week, Daniel and Harry are joined by Temim Fruchter, author of "City of Laughter" out now! They discuss the classic 1989 film "When Harry Met Sally..." starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan directed by the late Rob Reiner. First, they touch on why the film has sustained as one of the best Rom-Coms, pointing to the improvisation and natural conversations that drive the film's narrative. Then they discuss coincidence and synchronicity related to Harry and Sally's run ins throughout the film. They also answer one of the most controversial questions in food lore: What is your bagel order? As always, they close out the episode by ranking the film's "Jewishness" in terms of its cast & crew, content, and themes. When Harry Met Sally Trailer When Harry Met Sally on IMdB Temim's Links City of Laughter on Bookshop.org Temim Fruchter on Twitter Temim Fruchter on Instagram Connect with Jews on Film online: Jews on Film Merch - https://jews-on-film.printify.me/products Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpod YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilm TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod

    1h 17m

  4. JAN 8

    Everything is Illuminated w/ Tanya Singer

    Harry and Daniel are joined by special guest Tanya Singer to explore Liev Schreiber’s 2005 film Everything is Illuminated. Starring Elijah Wood as a young Jewish American traveling to Ukraine in search of his grandfather’s past, the film blends absurd humor with profound reflections on memory, trauma, and the long shadow of the Holocaust. Together, the group discusses the film’s road-trip structure, its use of comedy as a gateway to grief, and what it reveals about diaspora Jews returning to Eastern Europe in search of meaning. As Alex Perchik himself might say, this episode is “very premium discussion… many thinking, much feeling, and not so much crying (maybe little).” Tanya's Links Simchat Torah ChallengeTanya Singer on Instagram Movie Resources Everything Is Illuminated TrailerEverything Is Illuminated on IMDb

    1h 23m

  5. 12/18/2025

    The Meyerwitz Stories w/ Shawn Levy

    Harry and Daniel settle in with a nice luke warm bowl of shark soup and are once again joined by author Shawn Levy to delve into Noah Baumbach’s “The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)”, a darkly comic portrait of a fractured Jewish family in New York. With standout performances from Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Dustin Hoffman, and Emma Thompson, the film explores themes of sibling rivalry, parental expectations, and the burden of legacy. The hosts unpack Baumbach’s signature style, the film’s Jewish sensibility, and what it reveals about art, memory, and the bonds of family. Meyerwitz Stories on IMDB Meyerwitz Stories trailer Shawn Levy’s Links Get Shawn’s latest book, “Clint”Follow Shawn Levy on instagramListen to the Glitter & Might series about Lew WassermanFind other books by Shawn Levy Connect with Jews on Film online: Jews on Film Merch - https://jews-on-film.printify.me/productsInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpodYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilmTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod

    1h 23m

  6. 11/27/2025

    Barton Fink w/ Tim Blake Nelson

    Daniel and Harry step away from their latest Capitol Pictures assignment—something about a wrestling picture?—to dive into the Coen Brothers’ Barton Fink. They are joined by actor, writer, director, and novelist Tim Blake Nelson, whose new book Super Hero adds an extra layer to their exploration of creativity, identity, and the strange, sticky world of Hollywood. Together, they unpack the film’s Jewish themes, its surreal portrait of the “life of the mind,” and why Barton Fink still feels so eerily relevant. From peeling wallpaper to the pressures of writing for “the common man,” this conversation blends film history, industry insight, and classic Jews on Film humor—without the Hotel Earle’s heat. Barton Fink Movie Trailer Barton Fink on IMDb Tim's Links Purchase "Super Hero" by Tim Blake Nelson Upcoming Events 12/1 Tim Blake Nelson in conversation with Elizabeth Marvel at The Strand NYC12/16 Book Soup Reading & Signing Event in Los Angeles12/11 An Evening with Tim Blake Nelson at Bnei Emunah in Tulsa, OK Connect with Jews on Film online: Jews on Film Merch - https://jews-on-film.printify.me/productsInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpodYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilmTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod

    1h 32m

  7. 11/13/2025

    An American Tail w/ Robin Schwartzman

    Harry and Daniel are joined by caricature artist Robin Schwartzman to revisit Don Bluth and Steven Spielberg’s animated classic An American Tail, the story of Fievel Mousekewitz and his family’s journey from Russia to America. Beneath its colorful animation and unforgettable songs lies a deeply Jewish immigration story, echoing themes of displacement, perseverance, and hope. The hosts explore the film’s historical context, its portrayal of Jewish immigrant life, and the lasting cultural impact of Fievel as a symbol of resilience and belonging. An American Tail on IMDb - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090633/An American Tail Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTQ0qTubGz8 Robin's Links Buy a signed copy of "Drawing Influence" - https://www.drawinginfluence.com/shopFind Robin Schwartzman on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/robinschwartzman/ Connect with Jews on Film online: Jews on Film Merch - https://jews-on-film.printify.me/productsInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpodYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilmTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod

    1h 14m

  8. 10/23/2025

    Hester Street w/ Jason Diamond

    🧳 A tale of immigrants, Yiddish, and the struggle between Old World traditions and New World dreams. Jason Diamond, author of Kaplan's Plot, join Harry and Daniel to revisit Joan Micklin Silver’s 1975 classic Hester Street, a groundbreaking portrayal of Jewish immigrants in turn-of-the-century New York. Starring Carol Kane in an Oscar-nominated performance, the film captures the tensions between assimilation and tradition, Old World and New, as Jewish families navigate the challenges of American life. They explore the film’s authentic use of Yiddish, its role in American independent cinema, and the ways it reflects enduring questions of Jewish identity in America. Hester Street on IMDbHester Street Trailer Jason's Links Get Kaplan's Plot on Bookshop.orgJason Diamond on InstagramThe Melt Substack Connect with Jews on Film online: Jews on Film Merch - https://jews-on-film.printify.me/productsInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpodYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilmTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod

    1h 28m
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Daniel Zana & Harry Ottensoser discuss films of all types to investigate what truly makes a film Jewish. Covering everything from Fiddler on the Roof to Uncut Gems, they finish each episode by ranking the film’s production, content, and themes on a scale of 1 to 5 Jewish stars. Listen each week to find out!

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