Reel Culture:
The History of Israeli Cinema
4 Tuesdays at 7 p.m. ET
Oct. 14 - Nov. 4
Discover the rich history and legacy of Israeli film through this online class with a top expert.
How is film molded by national memory — and how does film create it?
This course traces the development of cinema in Israel/Palestine from the 1930s to the present, examining how films reflect and shape cultural identity, political tensions and social change.
Prof. Olga Gershenson, a leader in the study of Jewish film history, will begin by discussing early Zionist cinema then explore the "bourekas" ethnic comedies of the 1960s-70s, such as "Sallah" (1964).
The 1980s-90s brought serious social dramas addressing Holocaust memory and the Palestinian Wave, with films like "Wedding in Galilee" (1987). The 2000s saw international recognition for directors like Eytan Fox, Joseph Cedar, and Eran Kolirin.
Recent developments include Israeli horror films and films with a Palestinian point of view. The course will even include cinematic responses to Oct. 7.
Together, we'll examine how cinema functions as a form of memory, and we'll explore epic themes of land, migration and conflict.
Purchases of this course are non-refundable.
No film rentals or previous knowledge of any of the films discussed are required to participate in this course!
About Your Teacher
Olga Gershenson is Professor of Judaic and Near Eastern Studies and of Film Studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. A multi-disciplinary scholar, her interests lie at the intersection of culture, history and film. She is the author of "New Israeli Horror: Local Cinema, Global Genre" (2024), "The Phantom Holocaust: Soviet Cinema and Jewish Catastrophe" (2013) and "Gesher: Russian Theater in Israel" (2005). She is currently working on a volume titled "The Oxford Handbook of Judaism and Film."
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