DON'T ASK

by Tova Beck-Friedman ©2008

DV, color 3 min 25 sec


Language is a complicated dance between internal and external interpretations of our identity. New York City based, Israeli-born artists, writers and a dancer reflect on their relationship with the English language and their mother tongue, Hebrew, in DON’T ASK.
With archival films featuring the City circa the 1940s, their dialogue is intersected by a poem by Carmela Tal Baron, addressing the dichotomy between the way we are perceived by others versus who we really are.

"In DON’T ASK. Tova Beck-Friedman packed a punch with complex imagery and multi-stranded issues into a very tight format." Maureen Michaelson, director, Michaelson Art Gallery

"Wonderful use of imagery and poetry as well as the discourse on immigration. wow!", Lilly Rivlin, filmmaker

"It’s amazing how much meaning and intriguing photography DON’T ASK can get in only three minutes!", Rivka Rass, writer

AWARDS:

2010 Athens, GA Jewish Film Festival Shorts Competition -- 2nd prize

winner, Reel 13 / New York

Screening:

Performance & Intermedia festival 2010, National Museum in Szczecin, Poland

Athens, GA Jewish Film Festival Shorts Competition,2010

Czech Cultural Center, New York, NY. September 13th, 2009

Athens Jewish Film Festival, Athens, GA, 2009

The Norwegian Short Film Festival, Grimstad ,Norway, June 2008

Tamaulipas, Mexico International Film Festival , September 2008

International Short Film Festival Detmold, Germany, October, 2008

Non Violence International Film Festival / Cinewomen sidebar, Toronto, Canada. September 2008

NewFilmmakers NY, November 26, 2008

Reel 13 / New York PBS Station

Thirteen/WNET, October 25, 2008

Press Kit:

director's photo