The Boca Burger Battle Delivered!
Pictured: Judge’s Choice winner- Duffy’s, Photos by Rachel Galvin
By Rachel Galvin
The Boca Burger Battle didn’t disappoint. The meat was sizzling, the buns were warming and people were smiling from ear to ear. This annual event, held this year on July 12 in Sanborn Square Park in Boca Raton, attracts burger lovers from near and far to enjoy some of the best offerings from local restaurants. Not only were the restaurateurs there to tempt people’s tastebuds, but they were also there to win the competition.
The judges gorged themselves on burger after burger before making their final determinations. This year’s judges were Carmine Gialanelia, the morning show host on Carmine & Maegan In The Morning for WiLD 95.5; Chef Scott Seddon, brand manager at Pero Family Farms; Sam Kerrigan, anchor at CBS News 12; Vicki Corrao, board member of the Palm Beach American Culinary Federation and former owner of three Italian restaurants in NYC’s Little Italy; Robert S. Weinroth, former Palm Beach County Mayor; Douglas Heizer, publisher of The Boca Raton Tribune, and Dante Nardini, of #CommonManEats.
Besides the Judges Choice prize, plus 2nd and 3rd runner up, there was also a People’s Choice Award. People were voting til the tail-end of the competition.
In the end, it was Duffy’s who won the Judges Choice for Best Grill Master, followed by Won Toms and The Cove Waterfront Restaurant & Tiki Bar. People’s Choice went to The Vault.
While people tried out the 16 burger selections and sampled beer and other spirits, they could listen to the Spider Cherry band. Some even did a little dancing, although there was not much room. It cleared out a bit later; however, the event was still packed.
The event, put on by founder Russell Spadaccini, always gives back to charity, and this year they donated once again to Children’s Giving Foundation. People could also donate blood to OneBlood and Boca Heping Hands was on hand to take nonperishable donations. This was the 12th year for the event.
The next event put on by Spadaccini will be in the same location. It will be the Boca Raton Wine & Food Festival, held on November 8. For more information, bocaratonwineandfoodfestival.com.
The 40th Annual Ft. Lauderdale Film Festival –Feb. 20-28
(Photo of poster is from the film festival kick-off party, which took place January 15.)
By Rachel Galvin
Film lovers prepare for one of the biggest film festivals in the area. The 40th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival begins February 20 and runs through February 28. This year, the headquarters will still be at Savor Cinema, but it will expand to other venues, including Cinema Paradiso in Hollywood, Paragon Theater in Davie and Deerfield Beach, NSU, the African American Library, the Panthers Iceplex, IMAX at the Museum of Discovery & Science and Flamingo Gardens.
There are plenty of special events and also plenty of celebrities coming into town, including Chevy Chase, Paul Reiser, Terrence Howard, Jeremy Piven, Jamie Kennedy, Guy Harvey and many others.
“We are thrilled to present the 40th year of the festival with a diverse line up for all of South Florida,” says FLIFF President & CEO, Lisa Grigorian. “The festival includes ‘something for everyone’ and will also host a series of curated events throughout the week.”
Opening Night is Saturday, Feb, 21 with the screening of the action thriller “Miami Nights” at 7 p.m., with a reception at 6 p.m. The film follows two decorated war heroes who are dishonorably discharged after saving a high profile American journalist overseas. As they attempt to rebuild their lives, they become ensnared in a deadly scheme with local criminals, culminating in a high-stakes plot to steal a priceless diamond. The ensemble includes Terrence Howard, Jeremy Piven, Jeremy Sumpter, Danay Garcia, Sydelle Noel and John Lewis, who will be in attendance, among others. The film was shot in Miami. Tickets are $40 for FLIFF Members / $50 non-members.
The Closing Night will be “Guy Harvey” The Documentary on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 5:30 p.m. at the IMAX at the Museum of Discovery & Science. The film follows the life of Guy Harvey, marine artist and conservationist. Tickets are $40 for FLIFF members, $50 for non-members.
These are just the bookends to an exciting film festival. Want to find out what is happening throughout? Stay tuned for more information and visit www.fliff.com for schedule and tickets.
Art Palm Beach Creates a Buzz
By Rachel Galvin
Something was buzzing on January 28 at the Palm Beach Convention Center. A long line of people streamed into the kickoff of Art Palm Beach. The activity was certainly palpable, with the endless chitchat as people enjoyed one artwork after another.
But there was a different kind of buzz as well … one million houseflies behind a netted crate of sorts doing their thing and painting in the process. John Knuth was behind this unique concept. He fed the flies a mixture of acrylic pigment and sugar water, and everywhere they flew, they created artistic expression. The experimental piece definitely gained attention.
Many gravitated also toward the collection of Sylvester Stallone’s art. Organized by decade, it showed how he evolved over time. Many did not realize that he was not only an actor, known for such classics as “Rocky” and “Rambo,” but also an artist.
It was easy to spend hours at the event exploring the wide variety of art pieces on display – from colorful paintings to three-dimensional sculptures and artistic expression unleashed through technology.
Opening night, guests were greeted by violinists before entry and then could grab a bite to eat or drink some champagne as they perused the exhibits.
Every year, Art Palm Beach’s kickoff is a great place for art lovers to mix and mingle and explore new artworks, and come back throughout the rest of the exhibition. If you missed it this year, there is always next year!
More pictures available on www.facebook.com/letstalkmagazine. Photos taken by Rachel Galvin.
Film Review: “Aida y Vuelta”
By Rachel Galvin
All good things must come to an end. When Carmen chooses her mental health over continuing to be the leading actress on a popular sitcom called “Aida,” she had no idea the fight ahead of her nor the fate that was soon to befall the whole cast.
This situation is just one of the plot lines in the new film “Aida y Vuelta,” which follows a group of sitcom actors behind the scenes, showing their real lives and how it affects them. Carmen is not the only one with issues. One holds onto a secret. Another speaks out about harassment only to have it blow up in her face. The soap opera behind the scenes is almost more dramatic than the sitcom itself.
Carmen, played by Carmen Machi, might be falling apart mentally from the stress, but she still pulls herself up and keeps moving forward to battle against the system the best way she can. She is a force to be reckoned with, trying to break free from the trap she finds herself in.
The movie touches on serious subjects like sexual harassment, bullying, the use of artificial intelligence, women empowerment, HIV, cancel culture and more. But the film is quite funny as the characters gossip about what is happening with everyone and the production, and deal with people on the street hounding them for photo ops.
The film is based on a very popular Spanish sitcom called “Aida,” which aired on Telecino from 2004 to 2014. In the beginning of the film, words go across the screen mentioning the sitcom and asking what would happen if the sitcom had continued another four years. This film is a hypothetical look at what might happen.
Machi gives a commanding performance as the leading lady in this film. Watching her and the rest of the cast is enjoyable throughout. Through the drama and comedy, you are engaged in what happens next in this slice of life production.
The film will be premiering in Miami on Thursday, February 5 at Cinepolis Coconut Grove (with Machi and director/ actor Paco León in attendance. Regular engagement starts at the theater the following day.
Art Palm Beach is Back
By Rachel Galvin
Year after year, Art Palm Beach brings together the who’s who of the artistic community to enjoy art from all over the world. This year, the event promises to be even better as it expands its reach with some brand new exhibitors from London, San Francisco, Basel and Palm Beach.
Held January 28 to February 1 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, the event will open in style with a red carpet opening party on the first day and then the event will continue with world class exhibits. One of the most attention-grabbing additions this year is an exhibit by Sylvester Stallone. Most know him as a world-renowned actor for such classic films as “Rocky” and its sequels and “Rambo,” among others. But he also is an artist. This exhibition, entitled “Evolution,” will bring together six decades of his work. Long before he hit the silver screen, painting was his artistic outlet. Now, he presents this side of himself to the world. “Art has always been my way of pushing through the chaos and putting emotion into something real,” he said.
There are plenty of intriguing exhibitions to be seen. One of the most unusual is presented by John Knuth and the Hollis Taggart Gallery. The art is created by one million houseflies, who are painting. The way this process works is by feeding them a mixture of acrylic pigment and sugar water. Over time, the marks they make look like glowing abstract paintings. The exhibit reveals new sculptural globes that extend these paintings into three dimensional and ever-changing forms.
DIVERSEartPB returns for the fourth time bringing together projects and collaborations from artists around the world. This museum and nonprofit programming platform explores how contemporary art ideas move through the global system. They may begin within biennials but them transform within cultural institutions and then come back to communities through shared engagement.
Ready to explore some of the new artistic ideas that have come to our community? Art Palm Beach is the place to be. For tickets, visit www.artpalmbeach.com.
Some of the artworks you can see at Art Palm Beach:
4th Annual Sun & Stars Returns
By Rachel Galvin
The Donald M. Ephraim Sun & Stars International Film Festival© (SASIFF), presented by MorseLife, is returning January 25 to Feb 6. The festival presents 28 films, including award-winning documentaries, gripping dramas, historical tales, LGBTQIA+ stories, comedies, thrillers and more. For many of the screenings, some of the people behind the making of the film will be in attendance.
The festival opens on January 25 with the funny and heartfelt coming-of-age story “Ethan Bloom,” about a Jewish boy who wants to become Catholic, much to the chagrin of his father. Director Herschel Faber and screenwriter Maylen Dominguez will host a discussion following the film.
The Opening Night takes place within the Kravis Center, located at 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach. It will begin with a cinematic cocktail reception with light bites and beverages in the Cohen Pavilion at 6:30 pm, followed by the screening in the Rinker Playhouse there one hour later. The festival will also present the inaugural Donald M. Ephraim/Terri Sriberg Award for Cinematic Excellence to Film Commissioner Michelle Hillery, head of the Palm Beach County TV & Film Commission.
After a bevy of films showing through the January 31 at the Rinker Playhouse, the festival moves to Hooky Entertainment, at 14775 Lyons Road in Delray Beach Feb 1-5 with more great films.
Then the festival concludes on Feb. 6 with the movie ”A Man with Sole: The Impact of Kenneth Cole.” The documentary explores how the iconic designer fused fashion and activism over four decades to champion causes from AIDS awareness to LGBTQIA+ rights. Kenneth Cole and director Dori Berinstein will be present for an audience discussion. This event will take place at the luxurious Glazer Hall at 70 Royal Poinciana Way in Palm Beach. It will include a cocktail hour from 6 to 7 p.m. followed by the screening at 7:30 p.m.
For a full schedule of all the films that will be shown at the festival and for ticket information, visit www.sasiff.org.
SCHEDULE: (with screening times and locations)
Ethan Bloom — January 25, 7:30 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
Dead Language — January 26, 4:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
Islands — January 26, 7:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
The Pianist’s Choice — January 27, 4:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
Andy Kaufman is Me — January 27, 7:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
Frontier — January 28, 4:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
The Marching Band — January 28, 7:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
Case 137 — January 29, 1:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
The Tasters — January 29, 4:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
Speak. — January 29, 7:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
Sultana’s Dream — January 30, 1:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
The Mohican — January 30, 4:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
Calle Málaga — January 30, 7:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
The Stranger — January 31, 1:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
Reading Lolita in Tehran — January 31, 4:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
Steve Schapiro: Being Everywhere — January 31, 7:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
Natchez — February 1, 1:00 PM — Hooky Entertainment (Delray Beach)
Drop Dead City — February 1, 4:00 PM — Hooky Entertainment (Delray Beach)
Jimpa — February 1, 7:00 PM — Hooky Entertainment (Delray Beach)
Checkpoint Zoo — February 2, 4:00 PM — Hooky Entertainment (Delray Beach)
Young Mothers — February 2, 7:00 PM — Hooky Entertainment (Delray Beach)
A World Apart — February 3, 4:00 PM — Hooky Entertainment (Delray Beach)
The Little Sister — February 3, 7:00 PM — Hooky Entertainment (Delray Beach)
The Ties That Bind Us — February 4, 4:00 PM — Hooky Entertainment (Delray Beach)
Late Shift — February 4, 7:00 PM — Hooky Entertainment (Delray Beach)
Block Pass — February 5, 4:00 PM — Hooky Entertainment (Delray Beach)
Mortician — February 5, 7:00 PM — Hooky Entertainment (Delray Beach)
A Man with Sole: The Impact of Kenneth Cole — February 6, 7:30 PM — Glazer Hall (Palm Beach)
Film Review -“Auction”
By Rachel Galvin
The art world is not without its difficulties. Finding precious art, getting a buyer, selling it at auction … it’s not always so easy. When a pretentious art auctioneer Andre,’ played by Alex Lutz, learns of a lost painting, he goes to investigate. Is it genuine? It is. Lost in the ravages of World War II, the Egon Schiele painting now hangs unassuming on the wall of a blue collar worker … a young man living in a small town with his widowed mother. Next, Andre’ must determine if the family is willing to part with the precious find once they discover its outstanding value and return it to its rightful owners, after it had been taken away by the Nazis. Next, he has to make sure the family auctions it to the highest bidder and does not get sidetracked along the way. This all has its own challenges and stress.
But some of the biggest dramas come from his precocious and headstrong young intern, played by Louise Chevillotte. The dealings with her father figures and with the boss prove to be the most unstable moments in this film. Another player in the mix is his ex-wife and art appraiser, played by Léa Drucker.
Every time it seems this film will have a big twist, it stays the course. Again, other than the family dramas that color the personality of the intern, there are not too many minutes that stray away from the main plot points of the film. It stays the course and leads to an interesting conclusion. What will become of the young man who sold the painting? And what of the intern? Will it all go smoothly? Much is on the line.
There is an element of character study in the film as each person has a multi-layered personality. Andre’ has drinks to calm his nerves and deals with challenges with his work stability and bumps against the boss along the way, like two bulls in the ring. The intern has a lot of internal anger she takes out using insults and lies. The ex-wife is more subtle in her candor, trying to work her way into the mix and find out information. The young man selling the painting shows a moral nature but an extreme shyness and fear. The actors had a lot to work with in these roles.
This drama by Menemsha Films opens tomorrow, Dec. 5, at Movies of Delray. In addition, it will open at Movies of Lake Worth and in Miami at Coral Gables Art Cinema.
It is told in French with English subtitles.
29th Annual Bank of America Wine, Spirits & Culinary Celebration
By Rachel Galvin
Cocktail connoisseurs, foodies and socialites ensure the Museum of Discovery & Science’s premier food and wine event is on their calendar every year. After all, the event is filled with tasty tidbits from top area restaurants and a wide sampling of spirits to enjoy. The possibilities seem endless as people wind around through the throngs of people upstairs, downstairs and even outside.
This year’s eateries included Another Fare to Remember, Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop, Frank Pepe Pizzeria of Plantation, Fresh Kitchen, JC Beans Café, Original Fat Cats, Pummarola, Seasons 52, Sunness Supper Club, Sweet Aloha Ice Cream, Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse, Union Kitchen & Bar and more. In addition, over 50 wines and spirits were available to pour, courtesy of exclusive beverage sponsor Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits. Craft beer lovers had plenty of choices from local breweries as well within the beer garden, courtesy of Gold Coast Beverage.
In addition, there was a silent auction with a plethora of high-end items to bid upon. The Grand Arrival Sponsor, JM Lexus, had its vehicles on display too.
People could vote on their top picks for F&B, and after the winners were announced and the event wrapped up, people could go into the patio area and enjoy live entertainment to dance at the after party.
As always, it was an event to remember, and proceeds go to a great cause, to support their STEM education, innovation and exploration efforts at the museum.
Additional sponsors, besides those mentioned above, included Doubletime Digital (Print Sponsor); Centuric (VIP Wristbands Sponsor); City Furniture (Registration Sponsor); JetBlue (After Party Sponsor); Brown & Brown, DEX Imaging, M. Austin & Christine Forman, Rick Case Automotive Group and Truist (Valet Sponsors); BankUnited, Lochrie & Chakas, P.A. and R2 Squared (Silent Auction Sponsors); 5/3 Bank, Amazon, Berkowitz Pollack Brant, Blue Compass, CTS Engines, Dominick Miniaci, JM Family Enterprises, Joe Cox & Jeremy Collette, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, Leo Goodwin Foundation, Northern Trust, Ron Book, Sysco, UKG and WSVN (Platinum Hosts); ABA Centers of Florida, Ana Benedetti, Brightstar Credit Union, Broward Health, Dawn Desrochers, Debra Hixon, Gray Robinson, Greenberg Traurig, LLP, Greenspoon Marder, P.A., Holman Community Foundation, Kit Lee, T&S Associates, Inc. and Team FootWorks (Grand Tasting Hosts).
For more information on what the museum has to offer, visit www.mods.org.
Film Review: “Blue Moon” – Word Play, Wit and a Washed Up Genius
By Rachel Galvin
Once in a blue moon, you come across a piece of masterful cinema that you can’t stop thinking about. The film I just watched was one of those films … It was the kind of film that leaves you hanging on every word yet exhausted by the endless stream of verbiage and aching lack of movement. It makes you sit still with the main character and endure his internal struggles, much like those around him in the film.
The movie is “Blue Moon” and the main character is played by Ethan Hawke, who delves so deeply into his role that he is unrecognizable in every way. If he is not nominated for an Oscar, something is wrong.
With his oversized jacket, huge cigar in his mouth and combover, he is the very essence of a failing human being, and its not just his looks… it’s where he is in his life. His brilliance stands the test of time, his wit is without question, but some people have run out of patience with his imposing personality, endless drinking and lack of professionalism.
He plays lyricist Lorenz Hart, the once partner of the dapper young and confident Richard Rodgers (played by Andrew Scott) who has at this point left him to work with a new partner – Oscar Hammerstein (Simon Delaney), who seems a bit unsure of himself. Of course those two would go on to be legends of the American theater, creating plays like “Oklahoma!” “Carousel,” “Sound of Music” and many others. They left Lorenz Hart in the dustbin of history with not many remembering he existed. But he did do plays like “A Connecticut Yankee” and “Babes in Arms.”
The play takes place in the 1940s and is all set within a theater bar it seems primarily with Hart unleashing his every thought upon the bartender (Bobby Cannavale), who is hesitant to pour him a drink at first, obviously knowing his propensity. Harz is dripping with disdain about the new play, which everyone is watching in the theater… mocking everything from lines like “surrey with a fringe on top” to the fact it has an exclamation point at the end. His remarks are biting and, although in real life the play remains a classic, his commentary also rings true to a seasoned critic. It is nostalgic for a time that never existed, he says. He wants to create something with more substance and humor.
His attitude is not just about being jealous of not being involved with the play, which is getting huge accolades, but it is about being tossed aside by his longtime friend and collaborator … and also about a girl. The girl, Elizabeth, is all of 20 years old to his 47. She is a vision with a wavy bleached blonde bob and shining green eyes, a tall stature and an intellect and wit to match. He is smitten. He spends most of the film pining away by her beauty to anyone who will listen. He finds few takers – the bartender, a soldier who plays the piano and a writer. All the characters are mere extras to him. He sucks all the air out of the room. Everyone is a captive audience, some finally escaping his endless talking.
It isn’t until he talks with Rodgers that he meets his match, someone who can stand up to him, bat at him back and forth like a tennis match, and Elizabeth (played by Margaret Qualley), whose storytelling lures him into a trance, like a schoolgirl who goes mum in order to hear more about her friend’s escapades.
The idea of Elizabeth goes beyond just this young girl. It’s about her vivaciousness, her beauty. She is his prodigy, at the beginning of her career, while he is at the end. He wants to suck the marrow from her, wants to know every aspect of her relationship, to enjoy every morsel of a life he no longer can have.
We know from the beginning that, ultimately, this story is a tragedy and, by the end, you see the train wreck his life has become, the abandonment he feels, the longing for something more, the desperation. He is washed up, a Willy Loman, unable to change himself enough to move forward, stuck in his sentiments, and in the past, unable to adapt to others’ ideas. His life has become reminiscing about the good old days and criticizing everyone else, rather than creating anything new. He is all pie in the sky ideas that no one finds feasible anymore.
As the camera pulls away, he continues to do what he probably often does … listen to himself talk while others stand by listening the best they can as he pontificates on life, trying to keep them and himself entertained and make himself still feel relevant.
Everything from the size of the flowers in the scene to the quoting of lines from Casablanca add to the inadequacy of the character and his heartbreak.
Director Richard Linklater is known for working on films that are focused around dialogue and this one certainly fits the bill. Writer Robert Kaplow is to be commended for his script. Every word was carefully chosen, filled with in depth description, written more like a play or a novel than a standard film. And many witty lines gained plenty of laughs.
The film is perfection for an actor wanting something meaty to bite into, but it is a hard watch for the audience with no attention span used to watching soundbytes on the Internet these days rather than sitting through a cinematic drama with zero action. This is the essence of what independent cinema is about – not shallow fluff, but in depth character driven drama that means something.
The film was shown opening night at the OUTShine Film Festival tonight (October 16) at Savor Cinema in Ft. Lauderdale and can be seen virtually
The movie is well worth seeing, just be prepared for the pace, and see it before awards season because it is sure to be nominated – for acting, writing and probably direction, after all, it is Linklater. He has not won an Oscar yet, but he has been nominated for five.
The OUTShine Film Festival continues through the 23rd in Broward County and then heads to Miami, until the 26th. You can watch many films from home virtually as well. For more information, visit OUTShineFilm.com.
Opening night had a pre-party for some filmmmakers, sponsors, etc. and then the film was followed with an after party down the street at Masa and More where they had spanakopita shrimp and more.
“Blue Moon,” is being released to select theaters starting on October 24.
11th Annual Eat Your Heart Out
By Rachel Galvin
The 11th Annual Eat Your Heart Out brought in more than 250 foodies this year to dine, dance and mingle on September 25. Held at The Galleria Mall in Fort Lauderdale, the event, presented by BBI, benefited the Heart Gallery of Broward County. It raised more than $40,000 for its programs, which include the promotion of adoption and enrichment programs for Broward’s foster youth.
Local 10’s Eric Yutzy emceed the event, which included a silent auction, raffles, a pop-up shop from Dillards, a live band and a special presentation to honor Christine Frederick as the 2025 Child Advocate of the Year.
Frederick is well known in the community for her dedication to helping foster children and others as past CEO of the FLITE Center and current CEO at The Lord’s Place. She received a beautiful artistic glass award. Joining her on the stage was Heart Gallery of Broward County’s Executive Director Dr. Mary Kinirons and Heart Gallery of Broward County’s Board Chair Eleni Varvoutis, who both said a few words, and BBI CEO Robert Taylor.
Once the presentation was over, people could return to enjoying cuisine from places such as Aquaplex Fort Lauderdale, The Capital Grille, Dom Caruso’s Cucina, Gulf Stream Distillery, Il Mulino, Kaluz, Nothing Bundt Cakes, P.F. Chang’s, Sicilian Oven, Southport Raw Bar, Red Chair Catering, Seasons 52, South Bar and Kitchen, Spice n’ Vybe, Sunness Supper Club, Sweeter Days Bake Shop, Tasteful Thoughts and Todd’s Catering.
Event sponsors included BBI, Galleria Fort Lauderdale, Las Olas Capital Advisors, Advanced Roofing, Banesco, Locality Bank, OutClique, Brizaga, Danto Builders, Walter Duke + Partners, Daoud’s Fine Jewelry, Robbins & Moroney, P.A., City & Shore magazine, GPR | Goodman Public Relations and Local 10 News.
To learn more about Heart Gallery of Broward County, visit https://heartgalleryofbroward.org. For more photos, visit the Let’s Talk Magazine Facebook page...coming soon.
Film Review: “An Officer and a Spy”
By Rachel Galvin
The theme of antisemitism is rife from the very beginning of the film “An Officer and a Spy.” When Jewish Army Captain Alfred Dreyfus (Louis Garrel) undergoes a very public degradation, a court marshal for supposedly passing secrets to Germany in 1895, the disdain is obvious. Many look down on him just for being Jewish. The fact that he evidently is a traitor seems to go hand and hand. Convicted without very little effort, the dejected man is sent away to live a solitary life on Devil’s Island in a penal colony.
But this is not the end of his story. In fact, what would happen next in this true story would turn his tragedy into an action that would change the world.
His former teacher, Officer George Picquart (Jean Dujardin), who was promoted to head military counter-intelligence to take over for a man riddled with syphilis, begins to uncover clues that maybe Dreyfus’ conviction was not so cut and dried. He begins to doubt those around him as he finds more and more evidence that something is not quite right. And along the way, he finds one person after another who seem to tell him he is barking up the wrong tree and should drop the whole thing.
But, he persists … against all odds. A man who has a deep love for the army throws caution to the wind and threatens to lose everything to share the truth and seek justice. The further he goes down the rabbit hole, the deeper he finds the political corruption.
It finally takes the help of the press, Emile Zola and his open letter “J’Accuse,” to bring everything to light and lead to a new trial for the accused. Despite being convicted, Dreyfus would eventually win an appeal and be released and even be reinstated to the army.
The Dreyfus Affair would lead to a cultural divide in France and expose the antisemitism present in the country, as well as the corruption, and would lead Theodor Herzl to write “The Jewish State” in 1896 and convene the first World Zionist Congress a year later. At the congress, he discussed the idea of creating a Zionist state for the Jews. Thus, the plight of Alfred Dreyfus had a direct correlation with the creation of Israel as a haven for Jewish people — a profound piece of history.
Visually beautiful with a musical score to match its growing intensity, this film slowly builds from military bureaucracy to political intrigue. Two men’s lives seem to hang in the balance as the tale unravels. This, combined with the increased hatred toward Jews as the film progresses, leaves the audience feeling both thoroughly engaged and completely spent all at once while awaiting a resolution.
Two powerhouses collaborated to bring this story to life — director Roman Polanski and co-writer Robert Harris, known for “Conclave.” The duo also collaborated on “The Ghost Writer.” Dujardin, who plays the leading role, has already won an Oscar for his work in “The Artist.” The other actors from Garrel to supporting characters who surround them all hold their own. Everything from the performances to the props play a part in the masterful storytelling of this important history.
The film’s screening now is certainly timely. Although Dreyfus had been released from prison, his rank was not returned to where he felt it should be … until recently. On June 3 this year, The French National Assembly finally voted unanimously to promote Dreyfus to the rank of brigadier general, 130 years later. Given an uprising lately of antisemitism in the world, this acknowledgement is one step toward reparations in this matter, but also an acknowledgement of the state of the world today. This change of heart makes this film very current and an even more important watch.
The film originally premiered on August 30, 2019 at the 76th Venice International Film Festival and won the Grand Jury Prize and the FIPRESCI Prize. It also received 12 nominations for the 45th César Awards, the most nominations of any eligible film, and won the awards for Best Adaptation, Best Costume Design, and Best Director.
Now, the movie “Officer and a Spy” (J’Accuse) is showing starting on October 3 at IPIC in Boca Raton and North Miami.