Writers: Luize Valente, Elaine Eiger
Production Co.: Fototema
Country: Brazil
Year: 2005
Language: In Portuguese; optional English, French and Spanish subtitles.
Format: DVD
[ratings]
Summary: “For 300 years, rural Catholic communities in Northeastern regions of Brazil have been practicing unique customs in their homes. They light candles on Friday night, circumcise their baby sons, and kill their chickens in particular ways startlingly similar to kosher law. What they don’t know is these customs and traditions are reminiscent of their Jewish ancestors who were forced by the Inquisition to convert to Catholicism. The story of this film follows a young doctor, Luciano Oliveira, a descendant of the “New Christians” and his journey to reclaim a Jewish identity. He struggles to be accepted and officially recognized by Jewish authorities. In the end, he discovers for himself what it means to be a Jew in the context of his history and the modern world”–2005 Washington Jewish Film Festival website.