Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival - The Catskills

The Catskills is a humorous and nostalgic tribute to what became affectionately known as the Borscht Belt. Stand-up comedians share their best shtick while former waiters, entertainers, and dance instructors recount tales of the family-run resorts and bungalows that inspired films like Dirty Dancing. Featuring home movies, publicity photos, postcards, and menus, this time capsule provides an overview of Jewish immigration to New York going back to the early twentieth century. Director Lex Gillespie maps the development of the vacation destination, from a refuge for working-class Jews seeking a respite from poverty in overcrowded New York City tenements to a lavish summer playground for the affluent. This delightful film tracks the dramatic influx, peak, and decline of "the Jewish Alps." From lox to herring, this celebration of Jewish-American life is all you can eat.

DOCUMENTARY | 2023 | 86 MINUTES | USA
DIRECTED BY LEX GILLESPIE

Cost:
General Admission: $12
Students and Seniors (65+): $11
Rapito (Kidnapped)
screening at UMass Amherst: Free