No one is ever going to mistake the Baltimore Jewish Council for Siskel & Ebert. An agency of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore, the BJC is known for its many political, social justice and communal endeavors, but not particularly for movie reviews.
But in an email, the BJC strongly encouraged members of the Jewish community and others to catch the new documentary “October 8.”
Directed by Wendy Sachs and executive produced by actress Debra Messing, the documentary opened in theaters around the country on Mar. 14.
The film – which runs an hour and 40 minutes and bears the tagline “The fight for the soul of America” – is currently being shown at the AMC White Marsh 16 and the Regal Majestic in downtown Silver Spring.
“OCTOBER 8 offers a searing look at the eruption of antisemitism on college campuses, social media and in the streets of America starting the day after Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7,” the BJC wrote. “The film unpacks this pivotal moment at American universities where Hamas is celebrated as freedom fighters rather than as terrorists.”
The email also states that the documentary “shows how Hamas has strategically infiltrated American culture with their messaging and propaganda, finding unexpected resonance not only among Gen Z but with both students and faculty on elite college campuses.
“It also examines the normalization of anti-Zionism that has become the modern iteration of antisemitism.”
Besides Messing, people interviewed for the film include actor and podcast host Michael Rapaport, tech executive, author and activist Sheryl Sandberg, Israeli actress Noa Tishby and Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-New York).
“I felt completely betrayed by Hollywood,” Messing says in the film. “I thought the entire globe would be in mourning. And not only was it silent, there was jubilation.”
While the Washington Post praised the documentary’s “often-moving first-person student testimony,” the Hollywood Reporter wrote, “There’s no denying the importance of its message and the need for corrective action by pollical, academic, religious and civil leaders.”
For information about local screenings, visit october8film.com.
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