“A toe-tapping,
entertaining celebration.”
– G. Allen Johnson
San Francisco Chronicle

HAVA NAGILA (THE MOVIE)

A film by Roberta Grossman

US • 2012 • 73 minutes • 16:9 • 5.1 Stereo • NR • English

link to official website

The definitive, glorious (and musical) story of how the Hebrew song Hava Nagila (Let Us Rejoice), set to a traditional melody from the Ukraine, became the signature theme of Jewish life. Despite having become truly universal in appeal, the song never lost either its Jewish soul or origin.

Features interviews with Harry Belafonte, Leonard Nimoy, Connie Francis, and Glen Campbell, as well as performances of the song by Belafonte, Francis, Danny Kaye, Bob Dylan, Lena Horne, Regina Spektor and Chubby Checker.

Plan to walk out humming--or maybe singing out loud--this very special and universally appealing melody.

“You’ll leave the theater happily humming.”
– Elizabeth Weitzman, NY Daily News

“Smart about the stuff that matters.”
– George Robinson, The New York Jewish Week

“HILARIOUS!”
– Renata Polt, Hadassah Magazine

“This rare documentary will have you laughing,
clapping, and tapping your feet, and give you new appreciation
of a tune you've heard all of your life.”
– Lincoln Spector, BayFlicks.net

“A highly entertaining experience unlike any other documentary
in recent memory. Hava Nagila: The Movie is one of those rare,
crowd-pleasing documentaries that compels you to tap your toes
and leaves you with a great big smile on your face.”
– NYC Movie Guru

“Warmly appealing.
A fascinating, colorful picture.
An extremely hamishe (cozy) affair.”
– David Noh, Film Journal

“BRILLIANT!
A celebration of Jewish community.”
– Sue Fishkoff, Jweekly

"HAVA will have you dancing in the aisles."
– Jennifer Merin, womensenews.org