The Performance
Synopsis
Based on a short story by Arthur Miller, The Performance is set in 1937 as the fascist atmosphere in Germany is nearing its brutal pinnacle. Harold May (Jeremy Piven) is an American Jew and gifted tap dancer. Though he is nearly past his prime, he still longs for the success and status that have eluded him. While on tour in Europe, Harold, his old flame Carol, and the rest of his troupe are scouted by Damian Fugler, a German attache. Not Knowing the blond-haired May is a Jew; Fugler offers them a huge sum to perform one show in Berlin.
Once in Germany, the troupe discovers that the show is an exclusive performance for Hitler himself. As Fugler, Harold, and the troupe’s lives become intertwined, Harold is faced with a choice: either keep his Jewishness a secret for the sake of his dreams or, ironically, own up to who he really is in order to escape.
Credits
Director(s)
Shira Piven
Producer(s)
Daniel Finkelman, Chaya Amor, Jeremy Piven, Jenny Shakeshaft
Script
Josh Salzberg, Shira Piven
Cinematography
Lael Utnik
Editor
Michael Hofacre, Jessica Hernández, Oona Flaherty
Original Music
Lucas Lechowski
Cast
Jeremy Piven, Robert Carlyle, Maimie McCoy, Adam Garcia, Isaac Gryn, Suzanne Shepherd, Steven Berkoff, Lara Wolf, Yaniv Biton, Annette Lober
Original Language
English, German, Yiddish, Hungarian
Subtitles
English
Festival Highlights
Rome Film Festival, Italy, Official Selection
Palm Springs International Film Festival, USA, Official Selection, 2024
Atlanta JFF, USA, Official Selection, 2024
Miami Film Festival, USA, Official Selection, 2024
Reviews
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"Director Shira Piven’s impressive adaptation and expansion of a 2002 Arthur Miller short story offers timely observations about manipulating masses."
- Joe Leydon, Variety
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"Jeremy Piven gives a powerful, poignant, and emotional performance. The actor places all the conflict in his face and body language, and it just simmers until the end."
- Alan Ng, Film Threat
