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. 3D AGO

    The Prince of Egypt w/ Stephanie Butnick (Re-Release)

    Just in time for Passover, hosts Harry and Daniel are joined by Stephanie Butnick—creator of Golda, the Jewish culture guide—for a spirited conversation about The Prince of Egypt (1998), DreamWorks’ dazzling and dramatic take on the Exodus story. The trio dives into the film’s stunning animation, unforgettable music, and deeply Jewish themes, while also paying tribute to the late, great Val Kilmer—who voiced both Moses and God (talk about range!). Along the way, they unpack midrashic moments, sibling rivalry, and why this animated epic remains a Seder-season staple for so many Jewish households. Cue the plagues, and press play. This episode originally aired April 6 2025. The Prince of Egypt on IMDb - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120794/ The Prince of Egypt Trailer - https://youtu.be/SsGcttNUi9c Golda Guide - https://www.goldaguide.com/ Stephanie Butnick on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sbutnick/ 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 15m

  2. MAR 26

    Among Neighbors w/ Pamela Lavitt

    Harry and Daniel welcome back Pamela Lavitt, director of the Seattle Jewish Film Festival, to discuss Among Neighbors, the powerful documentary by Yoav Potash that uses animation to explore a haunting Holocaust story about survivors confronting the role their own neighbors played in wartime violence. Together, they examine how animation is reshaping Holocaust storytelling, the challenges of presenting difficult histories, and the film’s themes of memory, identity, and reconciliation. Along the way, the conversation expands to the evolving landscape of Jewish cinema, trends in animated documentaries, highlights from the Seattle Jewish Film Festival, and the enduring question: when films challenge uncomfortable truths, is that ultimately good for the Jews? Among Neighbors TrailerAmong Neighbors on IMDb Papillon Short Film on YouTubeSeattle Jewish Film Festival 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

    57 min

  3. MAR 19

    100th Episode Special: "Mel Brooks The 99 Year Old Man!" w/Yuli Masinovsky

    For their 100th (give or take) episode, Harry and Daniel celebrate a major milestone by revisiting where it all began—with their very first guest, Yuli Masinovsky. Together, they keep things loose, reflective, and a little bit meta as they dive into The 99 Year Old Man, the documentary from Judd Apatow chronicling the life and legacy of Mel Brooks. Along the way, the trio looks back on four years of podcasting—how the show has evolved from plot-heavy breakdowns to more thematic, free-flowing conversations—and what it means to build a creative project over time while balancing careers, families, and life changes. They revisit early Jews on Film staples like “the stretch,” the IMDb summary, and the ever-elusive perfect format. On the film side, the conversation explores Brooks as both a comedic pioneer and a complicated cultural figure: his role in shaping Jewish-American humor, his connection to figures like Sid Caesar, and the lineage of comedy that runs from the Borscht Belt to today. The group also digs into the documentary itself—its length, structure, and whether it reveals anything new about a performer who’s always “on.” Most provocatively, the episode wrestles with questions of Jewish identity in Brooks’ work: Is his humor a bridge to mainstream audiences or a performance for an in-group? Does the film sidestep deeper explorations of Judaism in favor of persona and mythmaking? And what does it mean for a Jewish artist to both embrace and satirize his own identity? It’s a celebratory, thoughtful, and occasionally heated conversation about comedy, legacy, assimilation, and storytelling—plus a few looks ahead to the next 100 episodes. Mazel tov to Jews on Film… and here’s to 100 more. The 99 Year Old Man Movie TrailerThe 99 Year Old Man on IMDb 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 27m

  4. MAR 5

    Marty Supreme w/ Leigh Stein

    Harry and Daniel are joined by writer Leigh Stein, author of the novel If You’re Seeing This, It’s Meant for You, to unpack the ambition, anxiety, and Jewish bravado pulsing through Marty Supreme, directed by Josh Safdie. Rather than simply treating the film as a sports drama, the conversation zeroes in on Marty as a driven artist figure — obsessive, self-mythologizing, hungry for greatness, and constantly performing his own legend. What does it mean to chase excellence not just as an athlete, but as a Jew carrying history, insecurity, and defiant pride on his back (and sometimes around his neck)? Leigh brings her sharp cultural lens to questions of ego, survival, and spectacle — including Marty’s provocative swagger and the ever-lingering communal anxiety: Is this good for the Jews? Is Marty a symbol of resilience, a caricature of excess, or both at once? It’s a lively, searching conversation about ambition, representation, and the thin line between self-invention and self-delusion — with plenty of ping-pong metaphors along the way. Marty Supreme Movie Trailer Marty Supreme on IMDb Leigh's Links If You’re Seeing This, It’s Meant for YouLeigh Stein on InstagramLeigh Stein on 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 35m

  5. FEB 19

    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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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
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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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