
Yuri (Ewan Leslie) helps his grandmother Minnie (Naomi Wilson) as she clears up in the kitchen. Her forearm has the tattoo given to those who were sent to concentration camps during the Second World War. At the synagogue Yuri is distracted by the presence of Rivka (Saskia Burmeister), but she is shocked later when he tries to kiss her. It is strictly forbidden that they should even touch. Summary by Paul Byrnes.
There aren’t many films, from anywhere, about the ultra-orthodox world of Hasidic Jews, precisely because these communities tend to be closed and private. Tony Krawitz, though not raised in a strictly religious Jewish family, says he did extensive research to try to get the details of a Sydney community right. It’s a story that could apply across a range of Australian enclaves, though – wherever the traditions of strict physical and spiritual discipline rub up against the desires of young people for experience, affirmation and physical contact. This is largely what Jewboy is about.
Yuri is forbidden to touch any woman, other than a family member like his grandmother. To break these rules will put him outside his community, but even after he chooses to leave that community, the prohibition is deeply ingrained. Krawitz dramatises these questions of freedom versus security with great delicacy, but also great force. Yuri’s disaffection within his community is extremely strong; his attempts to find equilibrium once he leaves the fold are equally affecting, because he’s so bad at life in the outside world.
Jewboy was Krawitz’s first short feature, and it was well received at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2005, where it screened in the section Un Certain Regard. The film won three AFI awards in 2005, including best short fiction film and best screenplay in a short film.
After the death of his father, a respected rabbi, 23-year-old Yuri (Ewen Leslie) rejects his strict Hasidic upbringing and becomes a taxidriver in Sydney. He gives up his own rabbinical studies, rejects his girlfriend (Saskia Burmeister) and insults his grandmother, a Holocaust survivor (Naomi Wilson). He befriends a beautiful young migrant woman Sarita (Leah Vandenberg) at the taxi depot, but she rejects his attempts at intimacy. Desperate and alone, Yuri is forced to decide who he really is.
Notes by Paul Byrnes
This clip shows a young Hasidic Jew, Yuri (Ewen Leslie), helping his grandmother, Minnie (Naomi Wilson), in the kitchen as she finishes preparing food. There is a serial number on Minnie’s inner forearm, which would have been tattooed on her in a concentration camp in the Second World War (1939–45). At the synagogue Yuri is distracted by a young woman, Rivka (Saskia Burmeister). After the service Yuri goes into the kitchen, where Rivka is making pastries. Yuri traces his fingers gently around hers, without touching them, but when he attempts to kiss her Rivka quickly moves away and reminds him he is sitting shiva for his father, who has died. Rivka asks Yuri to leave the kitchen as the old women watch.
Education notes provided by The Learning Federation and Education Services Australia
Yuri helps his grandmother in the kitchen as she finishes preparing food.
Yuri Hey, Bubbe.
Minnie Yuri, come and help me to cover this.
He helps her cover a plate in cling wrap.
Minnie That’s it, stretch it right across. That’s it and make sure there’s no bubbles, alright? Good, that’s right. I’ll put it in the fridge. That’s it, good. You want (inaudible), Yuri?
Yuri Yeah.
Minnie I survive everything and everybody – for what? In the end everybody always leaves me.
Yuri Well, I’m here.
Yuri hugs his grandmother.
At the synagogue Yuri is distracted by the presence of a young woman, Rivka.
After the service Yuri goes into the kitchen, where Rivka is making pastries. He pours a glass of water, drinks, then puts it aside. Yuri traces his fingers gently around hers, without touching them.
Yuri You’ve got flour on your face. Do you want me to take it off?
Rivka Yuri, you’ve sitting shiva for your father.
Yuri tries to kiss Rivka, who backs away.
Rivka What are you doing?
Yuri Don’t pretend you didn’t want me to.
Rivka I think I want to cook on my own now.
Yuri Yeah, well you just had flour on your face.
Rivka Yeah?
He picks up his glass of water and exits as two old women in the kitchen look on with disapproval.
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