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/shop
• Find 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/products
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpod
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilm
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod

🧳 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 IMDb
• Hester Street Trailer

Jason's Links

• Get Kaplan's Plot on Bookshop.org
• Jason Diamond on Instagram
• The Melt Substack

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

Harry and Daniel are joined by podcaster & writer Julie Klausner to tackle Adaptation, Spike Jonze’s wildly inventive collaboration with screenwriter Charlie Kaufman. Starring Nicolas Cage in a dual role as Kaufman and his fictional twin brother, the film bends narrative form to explore writer’s block, creativity, and self-doubt. The hosts discuss Kaufman’s uniquely Jewish lens on storytelling, the blending of comedy and melancholy, and how the film fits into a broader tradition of Jewish metafiction in literature and cinema.

Adaptation on IMDb

Adaptation Movie Trailer

Julie's Links

• How Was Your Week Podcast?
• Double Threat Podcast w/ Julie & Tom Sharpling
• Julie Klausner 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