Film Critic to the Culver City Observer and over 132 Publications Worldwide including: The Observer, Inc., John Schimmenti, Inc., CCN, Inc.,
Santa Monica Observer, Inc., Beacon-Times, Inc., Columbus-Register, Inc., and a Host of Others
CRIES FROM RAMAH
by debbie lynn elias
CRIES FROM RAMAH, Best Short Film Winner at the Sedona International Film Festival, is perhaps one of the most politically and socially relevant and timely films to hit the film festival circuit this summer. As if lifted from the front page newspaper in Anytown, The World, this is the story of Rachel and Saher.
Meeting at a local Tel Aviv police station following a bombing in the area, Rachel has just learned that her only son Jacob, a soldier in the military, has just been killed. Saher, a Palestinian and witness to the bombing, is at the police station for questioning. Unbeknownst to Saher, her son Hani has also been killed - and he is suspected of the Tel Aviv bombing. Told through the eyes of an Israeli police officer named Joseph who is investigating the bombing, we watch the true nature of the events unfold before us and the impact on each of these woman as a mother.
I had a chance to speak with director Loren Chadima about this powerful film, and was moved by her personal commitment to putting faces to the statistics and her compassion to those less fortunate than ourselves. After meeting with Myer Sankary and Deanna Armbruster, who head up the Middle East Peace Network, Loren knew that the real life tragedies that we hear about every day had stories behind them that needed to be told - a mother’s story. “I wanted to make a film that could help other Americans, like me, connect to the people and their struggle of Israel.” Teaming up with scribe Nathan Scoggins the result is a moving story that reaches out to people of all faith, creeds and colors. The icing on the cake is the crisp 35mm lensing of award winning cinematographer Jim Orr.
Although only 15 minutes in length, the cries from this film will be heard long after the curtain falls.
Currently a candidate at the Official Academy Award Qualified Screenings, CRIES FROM RAMAH is currently playing from August 31, 2006 – September 6, 2006 at 10:30 PM & 11:25 PM at Laemmle’s Grande 4-Plex, 345 S. Figueroa St., Downtown Los Angeles, 90071, 213-617-0268. For more information on other upcoming screenings and Festival appearances, check out http://www.criesfromramahmovie.com.
Directed by Loren Chadima. Written by Nathan Scoggins.