Lisa Palattella

Movies

A Cantor's Head
Editor
Jack Mendelson has been described as the best cantor in the world (or at least on the East Coast) and the Michael Jordan of Hazzanut. But after long years of service at the Temple Israel Center, his beautiful operatic voice is no longer wanted as the shul is looking to replace him with a younger cantor. Looking back at his long career, Mendelson and his many admirers and protégés explain the magic of this centuries-long art form, which so well combines spiritual exploration, communal bonding and dazzling showmanship.
Deli Man
Editor
Every story needs a brave and trustworthy guide, and Deli Man’s is the effusive and charming Ziggy Gruber, a third-generation delicatessen man - his uncle and great-uncle owned Berger’s in the diamond district, and the Woodrow Deli on Long Island. His grandfather owned the famous Rialto Delicatessen on Broadway, and Ziggy was stuffing cabbages atop of a crate when he was eight. Now he is owner and maven (as well as a Yiddish-speaking French trained chef) of one of the country’s top delis, Kenny and Ziggy’s in Houston – yes, Texas…Shalom y’all. Of course the story of deli isn’t Ziggy’s alone. Deli Man has visited meccas like the Carnegie, Katz’s, 2nd Avenue Deli, Nate ‘n Al, and Canter’s, as well as interviewed some of the great connoisseurs of deli, including Jerry Stiller, Alan Dershowitz, Freddie Klein, Dennis Howard, Jay Parker (Ben’s Best), Fyvush Finkel, and Larry King. - ComingSoon.net
Chely Wright: Wish Me Away
Editor
After a lifetime of hiding, Chely Wright becomes the first commercial country music singer to come out as gay, shattering cultural stereotypes within Nashville, per conservative heartland family and, most importantly, within herself. With unprecedented access over a two-year period, including her private video diaries, the film layers Chely's rise to fame while hiding in the late 90's with the execution of her coming out plan, culminating in the exciting moment when she steps into the media glare to reveal she is gay. The film shows both the devastation of internalized homophobia and the transformational power of living an authentic life. The film also documents the conflicting responses from Nashville, the heartland and the LGBT community as Chely Wright prepares for an unknown future.
Collision Course: Labor Management Relations in America
Editor
This film traces the dramatic rise and fall of workplace cooperation at Eastern Airlines. In so doing, the film uncovers the deep-seated assumptions which underlie our culture of industrial relations and prevent us from breaking out of our industrial impasse.
Australia's Animal Mysteries
Editor
Enjoy some of the bizarre and unbelievable creatures unique to Australia's shores as investigators and scientists probe the secrets of this infinitely varied wildlife.