A Holocaust series, three comedic movies, a comedy series, and more

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.

Here are new films and new series this month with a Jewish connection:

"Tattooist of Auschwitz"

This 6-episode, Peacock original series that premieres on May 2 is based on the real-life story of Lale Sokolov and Gita Furman, who met in Auschwitz and, after the war, married and settled in Australia. Sokolov sat down with writer Heather Morris after Furman’s death in 2003. He finally was ready to tell his “Auschwitz story.” Morris used Sokolov’s story to write a historical novel that changed some details but was essentially true to what he told her. The (Morris) book version of “The Tattooist” was a huge seller and the series is based on the novel.

Morris is a character in the series. We see Morris (Melanie Lynskey) talking to the elderly Sokolov (Harvey Keitel, 84). The young Sokolov is played by Brit actor Jonah Hauer-King , 28. Furman is played by Anna Prochinak, a Polish actress.

“Unfrosted”

A comedy film that premieres May 3 on Netflix, “Unfrosted” chronicles the competition between Kellog’s and Post cereal to produce a revolutionary pastry in 1963.

The screenplay was co-written and directed by Jerry Seinfeld, who turned 70 on April 29. This is the first film Seinfeld has directed, and he also stars in it. The large supporting cast includes Melissa McCarthy, Hugh Grant, Amy Schumer, 42, and Dan Levy, 40.

“Prom Dates”

This comedy film premieres on Hulu on May 3. Basic plot: everything goes haywire for two teen girls when they break-up with their boyfriends just before prom. Chelsea Handler, 49, has a juicy supporting role as the mother of one of the boyfriends.

“The Idea of You”

Premiering May 2 on Amazon Prime, this romantic comedy chronicles the love affair between Solene, a single mother (Anne Hathaway) and the lead singer of a popular boy band, who is about 16 years younger than her. Solene’s daughter is played by Ella Rubin, 22. The film was directed by Michael Showalter, 54, and it was co-written by Showalter and Jennifer Westfeldt, 53 (“Kissing Jessica Stein”). Showalter and Westfeldt have a Jewish mother and a non-Jewish father. Both identify as Jewish.

“Hacks”

Virtually all the “premium” outlets have series that have much shorter seasons than broadcast network series. It is rare when HBO, Amazon, etc. have series that “offer” more than 10 episodes per season. Then, you have to wait a whole year, or more, for a second, third, etc. season.

A case-in-point is “Hacks,” a very good comedy that received great reviews for its first season. It features Jean Smart as Deborah, an aged, once-very-popular comedian, and Hannah Einbinder, 28, as Ava, a struggling comedian who takes a job writing funny stuff for Deborah. Einbinder is the daughter of Laraine Newman, 72, an original “SNL” cast member.

“Hacks made us wait a whole year for the second season (May 2022); it was only eight episodes and not as funny as the first year. They waited two years (!) to finally stream a third season (begins May 13; 9 episodes).

I don’t understand why they are doing things this way, and it’s certainly not funny.

“Greedy People”

Opening in theaters on May 16 is “Greedy People”, a comedy mystery. It follows the residents of a small island town as they cope with unusual events: a sensational murder and the finding of a million dollars.

Three Jewish actors have big roles: Joseph Gordon-Levitt , 43, Tim Blake Nelson , 59 and Simon Rex, 49.

“Back in Black”

This biopic about the late British Jewish singer Amy Winehouse (1983-2011), opens in theaters on May 17. I could be wrong, but it looks like this film has all the signs of not being very good, and it may be a total disaster.

British actress Marisa Abela, 27, plays Winehouse. Her mother is Jewish. Abela isn’t a well-known actress, but the British filmmakers had to find some Brit who is Jewish to play Winehouse. All the other real Jews in the film are played by non-Jews.

The trailers for the film have been trashed by fans. Anxiety about Abela’s ability to competently sing Winehouse songs has been rising as more clips of the film are released and, at the last minute and without warning, the filmmakers cut the scenes in which top music producer and songwriter Mark Ronson, 48, an American Jew, supervises the making of Winehouse’s best songs and albums. Why? I don’t know.