Some of My Best Friends
- Westminster
- 1969
A penniless actor sells his beloved vase to a Jewish dealer pained to part with his money in this comic short reflecting antisemitic stereotypes.
While it makes for uneasy viewing today, this comic short illustrates popular sensibilities of 1913, and offers a rare glimpse of pre-WWI Finchley - look out for the butcher's shop window. From its antisemitic portrayal of the antiques dealer to the elaborate wallpaper of the interiors, The Antique Vase is very much a product of its time. Hard-up Martin and his kindly neighbour devise a ruse to appeal to the greed of the dealer, Lewinstein.
This collection uncovers insights, injustices and hidden histories across a century of Jewish life on British screens. It brings together documentary and first-person accounts of Jewish life in the UK, alongside historical dramas and artists’ work exploring the 20th century Jewish experience. The earliest surviving depictions of Jewish characters in British cinema offer a troubling insight into antisemitic representation, yet prejudice was later tackled head-on, with newsreels documenting the anti-fascist movement of the 1930s.
Drop in on joyous family weddings and community gatherings, and see the ways in which UK Jewry supported Jews young and old, and those fleeing persecution, in a selection of fascinating films from the 1900s to the 1980s.
This collection is generously supported by the Neil Kreitman Foundation, Shoresh Charitable Trust, John S Cohen Foundation, and Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation.