Can a nice Hasidic woman find her soul mate before she is over the hill? At 23, Aviva has been on a number of traditional dates prearranged for her by matchmakers. But while all of her friends are now married with children, Aviva remains single.
Heather Tenzer is a freelance filmmaker based in New York City. Her documentary films have screened at national and international film festivals. She graduated Stanford University with a Masters in Documentary Film Production and has a BA from Oberlin College.
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What inspired you to make this piece?
I was inspired to make MENSCH because I was interested in the ways that Hasidic Jews find themselves straddling two worlds - one that is modern and secular and a second that belongs to religious tradition.
Briefly tell us how you made your film or video: what camera and format did you use to shoot your piece, and what system did you use to edit it? What is your working process? Did you use any special techniques to make this work?
I shot MENSCH on 16mm black and white film using a Bolex. It was edited on a flatbed.
What is the relationship between your work as a video/filmmaker and life in the New York metropolitan area?
I am influenced by the incredible collisions between the different cultures that thrive in this city. It's amazing to see, for example, a Hasidic man studying Talmud on a subway car packed with passengers from all over the world, each with his or her head buried in a different literature. I am constantly struck by the beauty of so many different cultural customs and rituals that come from all over the world and the ways that they are all being practiced in this one place.
What films/videos and makers have inspired you or influenced your work? And why?
I am inspired by the works of diverse filmmakers including Jem Cohen, Alan Berliner, Chantal Akerman, Tony Cokes, Caroline Leaf, Jorge Furtado, Michael O'Reilly, and Elida Schogt. I admire filmmakers who push the boundaries of the medium.
If viewers are interested in obtaining copies of your work for rental or purchase, whom should they contact and at what address and phone number?
Viewers Interested in obtaining copies of MENSCH for rental and purchase can contact me via email at
htenzer@yahoo.com
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