Hava Nagila (The Movie)

Released Mar 1, 2013

1h 13m

Documentary

List

89%

28 Reviews

Tomatometer

68%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

Harry Belafonte, Connie Francis and Leonard Nimoy are among those featured in filmmaker Roberta Grossman's history of the song "Hava Nagila," from its Russian origins to its prevalence in Jewish culture.

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Audience Member

A surprisingly more interesting than to be expected documentary on the infamous Jewish Wedding Song Hava Nagila which routes & origin where largely unknown. It's amazing how popular the song was & how often it's was translated to different nations & personalities & styles. I personally have a keen interest in Jewish Routes in Hollywood Entertainment & find this film insightful. Also highlighted is the history of the song and how it originated in Ukraine hundreds of years before it was popular in the US.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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Audience Member

interesting documentary of the origins and growth of Hava Nagila. Worth watching for the tidbits you'll learn about the song.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

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Audience Member

Although it is a bit too long, Hava Nagila: The Movie is entertaining, informative and serves as a healthy injection of chicken soup for gastronomic Jews around the world. The historical background concerning the song's origin as a niggun and the feud between the "composers" who made it popular is fascinating. Cameos by my colleague Rabbi Larry Kushner and insight from Reb Zalman Schachter Shalomi were insightful. The observations of Harry Belafonte were also outstanding. This is a thoroughly enjoyable film, well worth your time. Mazel tov!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

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Audience Member

Seems a bit self-conscious and precious initially, but it works. The amused, slightly sarcastic tone complements the story of the inescapable song well in tracking the origins and inexorable spread of the quintessential Jewish party tune. It's a lightweight piece of work, with questions left unexplored, but it's pleasant diversion.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

travis h

In case the not-so-subtle title isn't enough to tip you off, Hava Nagila: The Movie is...well, a movie about the ubiquitous Jewish anthem. Although labeling it merely a Jewish song would be doing it an injustice, as the peppy, extremely catchy little tune has been known to liven up parties of Jews and gentiles alike. It's the consummate happy tune that channels an "ancient Jewy force" to get people out of their chairs and clapping on the dance floor, but is it worth basing an entire film around? An obvious labor of love for director Roberta Grossman, the film enthusiastically delves into the song's vast history to discover how it became such an integral part of Jewish culture. Narrated by actress Rusty Schwimmer (North Country, The Perfect Storm), the film is basically one long history lesson, tracking the song's evolution over the last couple of centuries. Its origins begin nearly two hundred years ago in the Ukraine where families still war over who actually authored it. Over time the song came to mean many different things as it moved around the world and became enveloped in the culture of different people. Doubtful anyone expected it would turn up in America co-opted into our television shows and covered by musicians of literally every genre. Harry Belafonte, who ran it into the ground during his lengthy career, is probably the biggest name to turn up and sing its praises. While the film maintains a light, bouncy attitude, it also shows that the song had special significance during the most trying times in Jewish history, namely during the Holocaust. Strangely, the snarky, ironic tone doesn't really change even then. Informative and often quite a joy to watch, there's the sense that Grossman is stretching to meet the 73-minute runtime. So we get lots of added fluff, mostly in the form of interviews with people who have nothing of importance to add to the discussion. There is one exception and that's the inclusion of the Klezmatics, a klezmer band who would rather do anything than play Hava Nagila. A documentary on them would be a hoot. Like the song itself, Hava Nagila: The Movie may only appeal to those who are in the right mood for it. For them, the film will be a cheery, nostalgic journey. For everyone else, all they'll get out of it is a really irritating earworm for a few days.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

entertaining & informative !

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

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Roberta Grossman

Director

Rusty Schwimmer

Narrator

Harry Belafonte

Self

Glen Campbell

Self

Connie Francis

Self

Leonard Nimoy

Self

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Bilge Ebiri

Spirituality & Health

Grossman explores the song's history further, the film gains in power. A look at the unlikely journey of a song becomes an ennobling, occasionally troubling look at Jewish history, going back to the shtetls of Eastern Europe...

Mar 25, 2020

Full Review

Ben Sachs

Chicago Reader

Thankfully there are enough eloquent talking heads to keep this watchable.

May 3, 2013

Full Review

Donald Liebenson

Chicago Sun-Times

A slight, but very satisfying, and at times, surprisingly moving, documentary about the inescapable Jewish anthem and wedding and bar mitzvah music staple.

Rated: 3/4

May 2, 2013

Full Review

Jamie S. Rich

Oregonian

The film is alternately fascinating and entertaining, though you'll likely be sick of hearing the familiar melody by the time it's through.

Rated: 2.5/5

Jul 25, 2013

Full Review

Chris Knight

National Post

You know you're in for an irreverent documentary when the narrator asks: "What's up with this song?"

Rated: 3/4

May 31, 2013

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Stephen Silver

EntertainmentTell

The film isn't slick and doesn't have the greatest production values I've ever seen, but it's still an enjoyable romp through the history of a great song.

Rated: 4/5

May 20, 2013

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Synopsis

Harry Belafonte, Connie Francis and Leonard Nimoy are among those featured in filmmaker Roberta Grossman's history of the song "Hava Nagila," from its Russian origins to its prevalence in Jewish culture.

Director: Roberta Grossman
Producer: Lisa Thomas
Screenwriter: Sophie Sartain
Distributor: International Film Circuit [us]
Production Co: Katahdin Productions
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 1, 2013, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 16, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $369.8K
Runtime: 1h 13m

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