Top New Films and CDs

Four Seasons Lodge is a counterintuitive and spiritually uplifting film about 100 Polish, Russian and Hungarian Jews who survived the Holocaust and, in 1979, bought 44 acres of land in the Catskills. They created a refuge, a bungalow colony with communal buildings called Four Seasons Lodge. They cooked, swam, raised children, prayed together and safely swapped stories about the war years. Their inspirational dedication to living righteous and full lives was, as they saw it, the best revenge. As one member put it: "To live this long, to live this well, is a victory."

The plight of lesbian and gay Muslims worldwide is explored in this new feature-length documentary that opens up a universe of pain and important spiritual expression to the world at large. With unprecedented access and depth, A Jihad for Love brings to light the hidden lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Muslims and goes where the silence has been loudest, to countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Egypt and Bangladesh, as well as to Turkey, France, India, South Africa, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Praying with Lior is a documentary by veteran filmmaker Ilana Trachtman that challenges our beliefs about who and how one speaks to God. The film follows Lior Liebling, a thirteen-year-old Philadelphia boy with Down Syndrome nicknamed "the little rebbe," for the four months that lead up to his Bar Mitzvah. The filmmaker brings to life a stirring story of how a community grapples with the particular gifts and handicaps of a special needs child, and how that child views meaning from his particular social location, Praying with Lior is as inspiring as it is educational.

Two Americans, a Hindu and a Muslim, sneak into the war zone of Kashmir to uncover the truth of what is happening in what is considered to be one of the most dangerous places on earth. Project Kashmir follows these two friends as they begin to grapple with their personal identities both in religious and political terms.

Imran, a young American Muslim, struggles to take over his father's neighborhood slaughterhouse in New York City. The son of an immigrant, Imran must confront his mixed heritage and gain acceptance from his father¹s conservative community. On one of Islam's holiest days, Imran must lead a sacrifice that will define him as a Muslim, as an American and as a son.

Taking Root pays homage to Wangari Maathai, winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize. Maathai is a spiritual leader and passionate advocate for women's rights, democracy and the environment in Kenya. Imprisoned and beaten repeatedly for her courageous stands on these issues, Wangari Maathai has brought hope and economic gain to thousands of Kenyans. Emmy-award winner Alan Dater and his wife, artist and educator Lisa Merton, will bring to light formative events in Wangari's life in Kenya and trace the turbulent history of the Green Belt Movement founded by Maathai, which became the vehicle for Kenya's women's rights and the pro-democracy movement.