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Co-presented with the Boston Jewish Film Festival: The Viewing Booth explores a space ostensibly off-limits to cinema — the internal experience of a viewer. Unique in its form and structure, the film turns its camera away from the world and towards Maia’s eyes — allowing us to follow her experience as she negotiates images that challenge her worldview.
Available Online: Wednesday, November 4th – Sunday, November 15th
Director: Ra’anan Alexandrowicz
Film Details: 2020, 71 minutes, color, partial English subtitles
Get your tickets to see this film, which includes a pre-recorded introduction from DocYard Curator, Abby Sun, and many other incredible films as part of the Boston Jewish Film Festival, HERE.
**Note to DocYard Passholders: This is a special screening–please purchase tickets on the Boston Jewish Film Festival website at the link above! **
Watch a live conversation with filmmaker Ra’anan Alexandrowicz on Monday, November 9th at 8:30 PM| Trailer
World Premiere at 2020 Berlinale. Official selection of True/False, CPH: DOX, and First Look Film Festival, Museum of the Moving Image.
About The Viewing Booth:
The Viewing Booth recounts a unique encounter between a filmmaker and a viewer — exploring the way meaning is attributed to non-fiction images in today’s day and age. In a lab-like location, Maia Levy, a young Jewish American woman, watches videos portraying life in the occupied West Bank, while verbalizing her thoughts and feelings in real time. Maia is an enthusiastic supporter of Israel, and the images in the videos, depicting Palestinian life under Israeli military rule, contradict some of her deep-seated beliefs. Empathy, anger, embarrassment, innate biases, and healthy curiosity — all play out before our eyes as we watch her watch the images created by the Occupation. As Maia navigates and negotiates the images, which threaten her worldview, she also reflects on the way she sees them. Her candid and immediate reactions form a one-of-a kind cinematic testimony to the psychology of the viewer in the digital era.
“The Viewing Booth” proves to be at its most absorbing when it resembles a cinematic infinity mirror of sorts. With her views unchanged, Maia returns to the same booth months later and watches and reacts to her past self, while we watch both of the Maias, as well as Alexandrowicz view and reflect on them.” Tomris Laffly, Variety
Ra’anan Alexandrowicz Select Filmography
The Viewing Booth (2020)
The Law in These Parts (2011)
James’ Journey to Jerusalem (2003)
The Inner Tour (2001)
The DocYard is an award-winning film and discussion series at the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge, and which also sponsors special screenings and co-presentations throughout the year. Each screening is a new experience as we connect audiences directly with filmmakers exploring the documentary form through insightful post-screening discussions.
