new film works at the walker

Starting today and ending Feb 27th, the Walker is screening two short works daily by Jay Rosenblatt:

Constructed from Hollywood movies, home footage, and religious and 1950s educational films, King of the Jews addresses fear, transcendence, and the challenges of being an outsider (2000, video, 18 minutes). Prayer was inspired by the cultural zeitgeist in the wake of the September 11 attacks (2002, video, 3 minutes).

Here's yet more descriptions I pulled from Rosenblatt's site:

King of the Jews

a film about fear and transcendence

Written and directed by Jay Rosenblatt
18 minutes • 16mm • color/B&W • 2000

Grand Prize, USA Film Festival

"A highly emotional personal essay on Christian anti-Semitism that weaves together history, autobiography and snippets of Hollywood films depicting the life of Jesus."
–Stephen Holden, The New York Times 

King of the Jews is a film about anti-Semitism and transcendence. Utilizing Hollywood movies, 1950's educational films, personal home movies and religious films, the filmmaker depicts his childhood fear of Jesus Christ. These childhood recollections are a point of departure for larger issues such as the roots of Christian anti-Semitism.

King of the Jews explores the challenges and fears of being an outsider, of holding beliefs different from the mainstream. The myth that "the Jews" killed Jesus has been responsible for centuries of pain and destruction. After 2000 years, the wound is still open. The film uses the resurrection of Christ as a metaphor for personal renewal. Only by acknowledging past injustices can we get closer to our shared humanity.