- Island of Roses
Infobox Film
name = Island of Roses: The Jews of Rhodes in Los Angeles
image_size = 125px
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director =Gregori Viens
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released =1995
runtime = 55 min.
country = USA
language = English, Italian and French Ladino with subtitles
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imdb_id ="Island of Roses: The Jews of Rhodes in Los Angeles" is a
1995 documentary about the dyingSephardic community inLos Angeles . The film shares shares interviews with some of the last surviving immigrants, who offernostalgic memories of their lost home, and explores how the once vibrant community ofRhodes Jews inLos Angeles now struggles to preserve its traditions as younger, assimilated generations have to make a conscious effort to maintain the practices of their ancestors.ummary
The Sephardic Jews of Rhodes were once
Spaniards who came to find an idyllic new home in the Greek island of Rhodes. The same night thatChristopher Columbus set sail in 1492, the King and Queen ofSpain forced all Jews out of their country. Sephardic refugees settled throughout theMediterranean , and a large number of them chose to make their home on the beautiful Rhodes, where almond and lemon trees grew and the smell of roses was always in the air.For centuries the Jews of Rhodes lived peacefully, preserving the medieval form of the
Ladino language they took with them from Spain and practicing their own distinct Sephardic traditions. But the quiet island was invaded byGermany in 1944, and Rhodes Jews were among the many sent off in cattle cars to their deaths.The Mediterranean island of Rhodes was once heavily populated by Jews, but only a hand-full still live there today. Many of those who survived and fled
World War II and its aftermath immigrated toLos Angeles , where the warm weather and sunny beach reminded them of home.Awards
"Silver Screen Award" at the US International Film and Video Festival, 1995
References
*cite web
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title =Island of Roses: The Jews of Rhodes in L.A.
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publisher =The Jewish Channel
date = 2008
url =http://www.tjctv.com/movies/island-of-roses/
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accessdate = 4 Augustee also
*"
Trees Cry for Rain "--another documentary about Sephardic cultureOther documentaries about unique Jew communities in Amierica:
*"A Home on the Range "
*"Song of a Jewish Cowboy "
*""
*""
*"Echoes from a Ghost Minyan "
*"Jews and Buddhism "External links
* [http://www.tjctv.com/movies/island-of-roses/ The Jewish Channel's review]
* [http://www.brandeis.edu/jewishfilm/Catalogue/films/islandofroses.htm National Center for Jewish film]
* [http://www.hollywood.com/tv/Island_of_Roses_The_Jews_of_Rhodes_in_Los_Angeles/5181541 Hollywood.com write-up]
* [http://www.jordanelgrably.com/sephardic.html article on Sephardic Jews]
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