Hanukkah or Chanukah, also known as Festival of the Lights, is a Jewish festival that celebrates the Maccabees' victory over Syrian army in Jerusalem. The word itself means dedication. It lasts 8 days and this year it’s celebrated from 10th to 18th December. Perhaps the most symbolic part of Hanukkah is Hanukiah or Hanukkah Menorah, a candle holder. 

Hanukiah is used to remember the miracle that occurred during that period. The story goes that although the rededicated Temple in Jerusalem only had one day’s supply of oil, the menorah remained lit for eight days - hence the celebration length. Hanukkah traditions include lighting the menorah, exchanging gifts, playing dreidel, eating delicious food and spending time with the family.

It’s a very family and traditional affair that has been celebrated for 2,000 years by Jewish communities all over the world. Unlike Christmas, Hanukkah hasn’t been very commercialised so there aren’t many Hanukkah-based movies and watching movies isn’t really a part of the tradition. However, there are some great Jewish movies that could be watched during the  8 days of Hanukkah, that celebrate Jewish traditions, culture and achievements.

Yentl (1983)

When mentioning some of the greatest contributions to Jewish culture and art, it’s hard to avoid Barbra Streisand. The icon and diva has had an amazing career and has always been proud of her Jewish heritage, having portrayed many Jewish characters onscreen. Some argue that her best work yet is Yentl - a movie about a young Jewish woman who dresses as a man so she could learn Talmud (text of Jewish law).

The romantic drama shows Ahskenazi Jews’ culture in Poland in the 20th century. It offers a great female Jewish representation and a powerful message. It includes Barba’s legendary song “Papa Can You Hear Me” and it received The Academy Award for Best Original Score. Streisand also received The Golden Globe Award for Best Director, making her the first and only female to do so.

It’s available on Amazon Prime video (Rent £3.49 or buy £7.99).

La Vita è Bella (Life is Beautiful) (1997)

Perhaps one of the most beautiful films ever created, this Oscar-winning movie talks about family, survival and the strength of father-son love during the worst times. The film’s story is mostly based in a Nazi concentration camp during WW2 where the main character Guido uses his creativity and imagination to protect his son from the horrors in the camp.

A great watch that will warm your heart and remind you in this Hanukkah season how important family is and how love can shield you from anything. It’s definitely a movie we all need to see once in a lifetime, especially in the current climate. I have watched this movie a few times since I was a kid and it tears me up every time, so in addition to the popcorn you should prepare loads of tissues. 

Available on Amazon Prime Video (Rent £3.49 or £6.49 to buy).

Ida (2013)

This Polish drama that won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film focuses on the life of Ida - a young woman on the verge of taking a Catholin nun vow, who was orphaned during WW2. After meeting her aunt, she discovers that she’s Jewish and begins a road trip to Polish countryside to learn about her family and herself.

On the road trip, Ida who was raised as an orphan in a convent gets introduced to “worldly sins and pleasures” - drinking, smoking and such. It tells a story of one discovering their background and how that affects the discovery of oneself. It's thought-provoking, an eery movie and often called a masterpiece full of beautiful cinematography. 

Eight Crazy Nights (2002)

This list wouldn’t be full without some old-school Jewish humour that is popular in Hollywood film-making. Also known as Adam Sandler’s Eight Crazy Nights, he has produced and written this musical comedy-drama in the style of your typical holiday movies. This animated film is about Jewish characters during Hanukkah season.

It’s perhaps the most known Hanukkah film and it has a cult following, especially among Jewish communities. Adam Sandler is known for using old-school and often cheesy (sometimes inappropriate in 2020) humour in his movies and Crazy Eight Nights is no different. It’s a holiday movie about a holiday miracle - a not so-friendly young man becomes a better person thanks to the holiday spirit.

It’s available on Amazon Prime Video (Rent £2.49 or Buy £6.99).

Wolkenbruchs wunderliche Reise in die Arme einer Schickse (The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch) (2018)

This Swiss comedy is guaranteed to make you laugh. It’s a funny story with elements of religion, westernisation, love and finding yourself. Motti, an Orthodox Jew living in Zurich, finds himself not being happy with the traditional Jewish life and falls in love with shiksa (Yiddish for non-Jewish girl). This movie shows us the different sides of Judaism and it touches the surface of mental health issues among men in Jewish communities.

It has all the key elements of a good rom-com - Jewish humour, forbidden love, tarot, gin and tonics and crazy parents. The movie also uses comedic elements to make fun of some Jewish stereotypes. It’s in German, Yiddish and Hebrew, so maidel get prepared to learn a lot of Yiddish phrases that will probably make their way into your everyday talk… 

It’s streaming on Netflix UK!

Enemies, A Love Story (1989)

Based on the 1966 Yiddish novel of the same name, it stars wonderful Anjelica Houston, Lena Olin (who were both nominated for Best Supporting Actress Academy Award) and Margaret Sophie Stein. The movie tells a story of Holocaust survivor that moves to New York, his struggling with depression after the war and the women in his life.

Having believed his wife died in Holocaust, he marries his maid and ends up having an affair with a married concentration camp survivor. His life becomes chaotic once his wife appears to be living in New York City and he ends up with three wives. This intriguing story, both sad and funny in some parts, with amazing characters, shows the different impacts of war on people. 

It’s available on Amazon Prime Video (Rent £2.49 or Buy £7.99).

The Fiddler on The Roof (1971)

This epic musical comedy-drama is an adapted version of a Broadway musical of the same name, one of the longest Broadway musicals. Perhaps the most iconic Jewish film and one of the best known Jewish movies in the world, it tells a story of Tevye and his five daughters. He tries to maintain his traditional and religious lifestyle as his daughters want to marry outside of his faith. 

Throughout the movie, he talks to God and often the audience by breaking the fourth wall. In his monologues, he talks about being poor and how his community is affected by anti-Semitism.  It won three Academy Awards, including one for Best Original Score. One of the movie's iconic songs, “If I was a Rich Man”, was actually covered by Gwen Stefani as “If I was a Rich Girl”. It’s a great family watch during a Hanukkah season.

Streaming on Amazon Prime Video (Rent £2.49 or Buy £5.99)

La Haine (1995)

Not your traditional Jewish nor Hanukkah film but La Haine is an excellent movie directed by Jewish director - Matheiu Kassovitz. It’s been dedicated to the victims of police brutality during the 90s in France. In the midst of urban riots in Paris suburb, the main character Vinz is a young Jewish man struggling with anger issues, oppression and police brutality. 

It is full of great hidden messages throughout the entire movie, the most memorable one being a story about a Jewish man in Gulag that gets told in the restroom. The movie itself and all of the messages it sends across are definitely food for thought. Hanukkah is a celebration of victory against oppression and La Haine is exactly that - fighting against oppression in just a different time and format.

It’s currently available on Amazon Prime Video (Rent £4.49 or Buy £9.99).

You could also check out comedian’s Tiffany Haddish Black Mitzvah and American-Yiddish mini series Unorthodox, both great examples of different sides of Judaism and strong Jewish female representations. Both streaming on Netflix UK.

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Written by Silvija Zabcic