eSefarad Noticias del Mundo Sefaradi
Duration: 25 mn
Documentary film of 25 mm.
Izmir 2012
Ladino, subtitled in English and French.
The film presents from time to time weddings Sephardi rituals in Izmir. Interviews are performed in ladino, native language, until around 1950, of the Izmir Sephardi community. The film will be presented and commented by Mr Selim Bonfil President of Centre of Exhibition Sephardic of Izmir.
The photography exhibition “Sephardic Weddings in Izmir Past and Present” and the short documentary with the same title portray the rich traditions reflected by the prenuptial and postnuptial rituals particular to the Jews of Izmir. Dating from 1920’s to our day, old and new photographs are displayed together to emphasize the continuity of tradition. The 33 minute documentary film based on personal accounts was produced from interviews done for the most part in Ladino with Jews of different ages in Izmir. In both the film and the exhibit it is possible to trace the influence of the Ottoman-Turkish culture on some Sephardic traditions. These two performances were created as part of the project to establish the “Izmir Sephardic Exhibition Center” with a view to present the Sephardic history and culture in Izmir. The work was realized by Selim Bonfil, Sarit Bonfil, Aksel Bonfil and a group of volunteers. Selim Bonfil is an amateur photographer and member of IFOD, and Aksel Bonfil is a script-writer and actor. Sarit Bonfil does interviews for her work on “oral history”.
It is a wonderful documentary of the very unique marriage customs of Izmir, and a pleasure to hear the interviews done in the particular ladino of Izmirlis.
Thank you, Selim, Sarit and Aksel for your work, which will ensure that the beauty of our community will never be forgotten.
Rachel Amado Bortnick
where can i watch this film? Tried to find it in YTube and in the web without success. Thanks.
Vivian