PFF SPRINGFEST – CITY OF JOEL

JESSE SWEET | USA | ENGLISH, YIDDISH | 2018 | 83 MIN

The rapidly expanding Hasidic enclave of Kiryas Joel is the subject of this riveting doc, which captures the bitter turf war between the village’s ultra-Orthodox residents and their secular neighbors. Nestled in the picturesque hills of New York’s Hudson Valley, Kiryas Joel measures barely one square mile, yet boasts a population of over 22,000 residents. The community has become both a symbol of Jewish resilience and a lightning rod for controversy, and its leaders’ attempt to annex adjacent land to accommodate the community’s rapidly expanding population has brought fierce opposition from residents of the surrounding town of Monroe. Filmmaker Jesse Sweet follows both sides of the debate, as accusations of anti-Semitism and corruption fly and each side gears up for a contentious vote to determine the town’s future. With a balanced and clear-sighted approach, this timely doc raises larger questions about the religious, economic, and political divisions facing America today.

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Part of PFF SPRINGFEST April 12-14 at the Philadelphia Film Center
With PFF SpringFest, the Philadelphia Film Society presents a mid-year survey of the freshest cinematic marvels from the international festival circuit–from American indie darlings and eye-opening documentaries to acclaimed foreign titles. Browse the full program HERE.

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