By Reporter staff

The Binghamton Jewish Film Fest will hold a virtual showing of the film “Golden Voices.” Andy Horowitz, founder and director of the Galumpha dance troupe, will moderate a Zoom discussion of the film. To register for links to the film and discussion, click here. The film will be available for viewing from Thursday-Sunday, January 23-26. The discussion will be held on Sunday, January 26, at 7 pm. The film is in Russian and Hebrew with subtitles. The film fest is co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton and the Ithaca Area United Jewish Community. 

“Golden Voices” tells the story of Victor and Raya Frenkel (Vladimir Friedman and Maria Belkin) who were the golden voices of Soviet film dubbing. In 1990, with the collapse of the U.S.S.R., they decided to immigrate to Israel, just like hundreds of thousands of Soviet Jews. The Frenkels’ attempts to use their distinctive talent in a country that doesn’t need it turns the beginning of the new chapter of their lives into “an amusing, painful, and absurd experience.”

“Golden Voices” has won numerous awards and nominations at film festivals, including being the 2019 winner of the Israeli Film Competition Award for director Evgeny Ruman; and the winner of the 2019 Nominee Grand Prize for Best Film at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, along with jury prizes at that festival for best director, best cinematographer, best music and best script. It was also the Best Film Director in 2020 Winner International Competition Award at BIFEST – Bari International Film Festival for Evgeny Ruman and the 2020 Dorfman Best Film Award Winner at the UK Jewish Film Festival.

Glenn Kenny at The New York Times called the film “a winning comedy-drama.” Gary Goldstein at the Los Angeles Times wrote that it is a “bittersweet, heartfelt comedy.” Tablet noted that it is “a sensitive and heartwarming film about immigration, growing old, love, and new beginnings”

“Join us for this well acted, touching film, that also contains moments of humor,” said Shelley Hubal, executive director of the Federation. “The insights into the lives of these immigrants offers a different picture of life in Israel.”