Spinoza – 6 Reasons for the Excommunication of the Philosopher
Synopsis
The excommunication of Baruch Spinoza, the Dutch Jewish philosopher who revolutionized modern thought, is a formative, mysterious event in the understanding of his work. Director David Ofek takes us on an intercontinental journey tracing six reasons for Spinoza’s excommunication. Between Amsterdam, The Hague, New York, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv, he makes some surprising discoveries, and traces the figure of a man who continues to intrigue our culture with his ideas, which remain revolutionary, spiritual, and radical to this day. This is the 17th film created for The Hebrews project.
Credits
Director(s)
David Ofek
Producer(s)
Yair Qedar
Script
Meron Sasson, David Ofek, Yair Qedar
Cinematography
Dror Lebendiger
Editor
Shaked Goren
Original Language
Hebrew, English
Subtitles
Hebrew, English
Sound Designer
Aviv Aldema
Produced with the help of
Kan 11, Makor Fund, Avi Chai-Gesher Film Fund
Festival Highlights
Jewish Culture in Copenhagen, Denmark, Official Selection, 2024
New York Sephardic JFF (American Sephardi Federation), USA, Official Selection, 2024
Toronto JFF, Canada, Official Selection, 2024
East Bay JFF, USA, Official Selection, 2024
Chattanooga Documentary Film Series, USA, Official Selection, 2024
New York Jewish Film Festival, USA, Official Selection, 2024
Sao Paulo JFF, Brazil, Official Selection, 2023
Reviews
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"The ban on Baruch ‘Benedict’ Spinoza is in force, as are his radical ideas that remade the world, but don’t let that stand in the way of seeing this remarkable documentary."
- The Sun
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"Ofek’s film... fits the style of its subject in its expansive but approachable presentation. In under an hour, it provides a satisfying primer on a mind that upended Western thought, and even manages to find living relatives whose own artistic projects echo Spinoza’s gracious worldview.
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