(LOVELADIES, NJ) -- The stakes are high in The Performance, a new film based on a short story by Arthur Miller, which will be screened by the Lighthouse International Film Society on Thursday, October 10, 2024 at Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences. It is a poignant study of American dancer on tour in fascist Germany forced to choose between his career or Jewish identity. The screening begins at 7:30pm.
In 1937, during Germany's fascist rise, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed Jewish-American tap dancer, Harold May, is invited to give a special performance for a gathering of political elites. Enticed by the promise of a much-needed, generous payday for his struggling troupe, Harold accepts, only to learn that Adolf Hitler will be attending as the guest of honor.
The film raises critical questions: What danger will Harold face if his Jewish identity is exposed? Should he prioritize the safety of his dancers by going through with the performance, or risk everything to flee before it’s too late?
Jeremy Piven, best known for his role as the fast-talking talent agent Ari Gold in HBO’s Entourage, leads a stellar cast that includes Robert Carlyle, Maimie McCoy, Steven Berkoff, Adam Garcia, Lara Wolf and more.
Advance tickets are $12 (free for LIFSOCIETY members) and available for purchase online. Tickets are $15 at the door. Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences is located at 120 Long Beach Blvd. in Loveladies, New Jersey.
"This is no stodgy period piece,” comments the film’s director Shira Piven. "While it remains strongly grounded in the late 1930s, there's a contemporary energy at play here which delivers a heightened style. Dreams and dance numbers come to life as the war looms, forcing our gifted but unlucky dancer to either keep his Jewishness a secret, or own up to who he really is in the hope to escape.”
The film was adapted from a short story by American Nobel Laureate Arthur Miller, (1915-2005), best known for his plays Death of a Salesman, A View From The Bridge, and The Crucible. The Performance was first published in The New Yorker magazine in 2002.
The Lighthouse International Film Society is the film festival's sister organization, bringing cutting-edge, award-winning films and events to enjoy all year long. The 2025 Lighthouse International Film Festival will take place June 4-8.
