Today is Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Memorial Day.
I’m posting Part I of my movie, The Devil’s Arithmetic for viewing. The film stars Kirsten Dunst and the late Brittany Murphy in spectacular performances. The rest of the film is available, but I’d greatly appreciate it if you ordered the DVD and gave it to friends, schools and libraries.
It took me seven years to get this film produced. Every studio and network in town declined until Mimi Rogers and Dustin Hoffman came aboard as producers, championed my script and made a deal with Show Time.
I won the Emmy for my adaptation of Jane Yolen’s wonderful novel, though I was not present for the ceremony because it was on Shabbat and I was in shul.
After havdalah, Mimi called and told me that I won.
Always the articulate author, I said: “Wow.”
A few minutes later, after hugs and kisses, Karen asked me to take out the garbage.
I said: “Take out the garbage? Are you kidding, I just won the Emmy!”
Karen said: “Talk to me after you win the Oscar.”
My glamorous Hollywood life.
Ariel Chaim Avrech, ZT'L, May His Righteous Memory be a Blessing.
8 Comments
I haven’t watched it in the last six months but it really is a superb film and Murphy is deserving of high praise for her performance. It is a rare example of a movie doing right by an excellent book. If only all movies adaptions were on this level.
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Johnny:
Thanks for the kind words. Brittany was a hugely talented actress. Her untimely death is a real tragedy.
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I’ll definitely be purchasing the DVD, Robert.
Just saw this linked at Weasel Zippers and thought I’d share:
http://jalopnik.com/5903482/watch-highway-traffic-halt-as-israels-sirens-wail-in-memory-of-those-lost-in-the-holocaust
Tears are flowing.
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Vixen:
Thanks so much for the link. I’ve been in Israel during Yom HaShoah and the silence during the sirens is bone chilling, as it should be.
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Linked at my blog and at Chicago Boyz.
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David:
Thanks for the link.
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It is a great movie Robert – I have it. And it seems Karen keeps you grounded!
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Bill:
Without Karen I am nothing.
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[...] This Post Tweet This PostToday is Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Memorial Day. Screenwriter Robert Avrech has posted the first part of his Emmy-award-winning film The Devil’s Arithmetic, which is [...]
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