JEZ: A LETTER TO LIFE

Australia, 2021, 52 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Mitzi Goldman.

This is a portrait of a significant member of the Sydney Jewish community, Jeremy Spinak. It is also something of a eulogy.

Jeremy Spinak was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in the heart, no cure known. He decides that he would like to leave a testimony to his twins, born just as he received his diagnosis. He speaks to camera about his life, his childhood, energetic in sports-loving as a teenager, his marriage, his brother and parents and extended family, his happiness.

Jeremy is also a public figure in the Jewish community, especially on the board of the Jewish Board of Deputies, and becoming its youngest president. Scenes are shown of him receiving a public award, presented by the Premier of New South Wales, Gladys Berijiklian.

The film goes into his background and his years of work, political advice, social causes, a focus on equality and elimination of prejudice. There are various testimonies from public figures as well as friends.

There is great appreciation from his older brother, Michael.

What enhances the eulogy is that there is a great deal of film footage, home movies of the past, quite an amount to give a visual impression of the young Jeremy, his growing up, his early years, being with his family, his public life.

The subject is worthy, the treatment indicating how this particular mode of filming can be a valuable record of a person’s life.

The film was directed by Mitzi Goldman, who has built up a significant reputation as producer of fine documentaries..