Three new movies (one is very Jewish), two series

Stars of David

By Nate Bloom, Stars of David Contributing Columnist

Editor’s Note: Persons in bold are deemed by Nate Bloom to be Jewish for the purpose of this column. Persons identified as Jewish have at least one Jewish parent and were not raised in, or identify with, a faith other than Judaism. Converts to Judaism, of course, are also identified as Jewish.

“The Last Showgirl”

This film opens in theaters on Jan. 10. Here’s the basic premise: After a 30-year run, Shelly, a seasoned Las Vegas showgirl (Pamela Anderson) must plan her future after the show closes abruptly. Showgirl revues (beautiful women who walk around the stage partially nude) have become passe.

The costars include Jamie Lee Curtis, 65, as Annette, a waitress and former showgirl and Jason Schwartzman, 44, as a director who doesn’t cast Shelly in another revue.

The extended Coppola family has connections to “The Last Showgirl.” The film (which got pretty good advance reviews) was directed by Gina Coppola, the granddaughter of Francis Coppola; Schwartzman is the son of Talia Shire, Francis’s sister (Schwartzman’s father is Jewish); Kate Gersten, 45, the “The Last Showgirl” screenwriter, is married to producer Matthew Shire, 49. He’s the son of Talia and her first husband, David Shire, 87, an Oscar-winning composer.

“The Wolfman”

Opening in theaters on Jan. 17, “The Wolfman” is about Blake (Christopher Abbott) who relocates to Oregon when he inherits the farmhouse he grew up in. He is accompanied by his wife, Charlotte (Julia Garner, 30) and their young daughter. One night, a werewolf claws Blake’s arm and pretty soon he begins turning into a horrifying creature who might attack his wife and child. (Fun fact: The original film of the same name premiered in 1941 and was written by Curt Sidomak, a German Jew who ran from the Nazis. He invented virtually all the “stuff” associated with werewolves).

Garner’s mother, Tamar Gingold, was born and raised in Israel, where she acted and did comedy. She moved to the states and became a therapist. Garner’s father, who isn’t Jewish, is a painter and art teacher. Garner identifies as Jewish but isn’t religious. She won three Emmys for her performances on “Ozark,” a Netflix series.

“Bau, Artist at War”

This film opens in theaters on Jan. 25. I could use several columns to explain who Joseph Bau was and convey his amazing life. If you search his name on Google, you’ll find many articles that provide full biographies.

Bau (Emile Hirsch) was a Polish Jew who was imprisoned in the Plaskow concentration camp near Krakow, Poland. This is the concentration camp depicted in “Schindler’s List” and Oskar Schindler is a character in “Bau, Artist at War.” Schindler saved the lives of Bau and Rebecca, a woman whom Bau met and married in the concentration camp.

Bau used his artistic talents to stay alive, and he used those talents to create phony identity documents that allowed many Jews to escape the camp and survive — all this is in the film. It also shows Bau and his wife moving to Israel in 1950 and his return to Europe to testify against the Nazi officer who tortured and killed his father.

Hirsch’s paternal grandfather was Jewish. The rest of his “grands” weren’t Jewish. Most of the Jewish characters are played, I think, by little known Jewish actors. One exception: Rebecca is played by Inbar Lavi, 38, a well-known Israeli actress. She was a main cast member in five American TV series: “Underemployed” (MTV); “Gang Related” (Fox), “Prison Break” (Fox); “Imposters” (Bravo); and “Lucifer” (Netflix).

“Missing You”

This Netflix series premieres on Jan. 1. It is adapted from a novel by Harlen Coben, 62. This series is set in Manchester, England, and all the actors are Brits. Here’s the premise: Detective Kat Donovan discovers her “missing” fiancé on a dating app over a decade after his disappearance.

There is no advance info on the background of the supporting characters. I can tell you that two British Jewish actors (Paul Kaye, 56, and Samantha Spiro, 58) have big supporting roles, and I can provide the names of their characters.

Kaye is well-known in Britain for a hit ‘90s comedy TV show that launched his career, while tons other of British TV guest roles and some stage work followed. He’s best known in America for playing Thoros of Myr, aka “the Red Priest,” on the “Game of Thrones.” He also played Monte LeBurne on “Missing.”

Spiro plays Nurse Sally Steiner (Jewish?) in “Missing.” Like Kaye, she’s best known in America for playing a “Game of Thrones” character (the mother of major character Sam Tarley). In the U.K., she is a major TV and stage actress. She’s won three Laurence Olivier Awards (the British equivalent of the Tony Awards in the United States).

“Finding Your Roots”

The 11th season of “Finding Your Roots,” the acclaimed PBS series that traces the ancestry of famous people, begins on Jan. 7. The names of guest celebs have been released, but as I write this, the date that a celeb will appear hasn’t been released. Just one Jewish celeb will be a guest this year: actress Debra Messing, 56. She’s best known as the star of the hit TV series “Will and Grace.”