Big in Japan, Huge in Jerusalem

What do you call a sumo wrestler who speaks Hebrew? Herzl! Well, that’s what you call him in the film A Matter of Size — ’cause that’s his name. Herzl is a 340-pound Israeli dishwasher who decides to forgo dieting to waddle around in a faux-loincloth wedgie and throw down...

By Amanda McCorquodale

January 7, 2010

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What do you call a sumo wrestler who speaks Hebrew? Herzl! Well, that’s what you call him in the film A Matter of Size — ’cause that’s his name. Herzl is a 340-pound Israeli dishwasher who decides to forgo dieting to waddle around in a faux-loincloth wedgie and throw down with his other overweight friends. And in his new take on the battle of the bulge, he finds not only happiness but also respect. The film won the Audience Award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic and received 13 Israeli Film Academy nominations. You can see this rare coupling of Jewish and Japanese cultures this Saturday at 8:30 p.m. at the Colony Theatre (1040 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach), where A Matter of Size will open the 13th annual Miami Jewish Film Festival.

The fest, which runs through January 24, also includes films centering on the Holocaust (Unter Bauern: Retter in der Nacht), assimilation (Tickling Leo), and one thing that can ruin a perfectly good Shabbat dinner (Oy Vey! My Son Is Gay!)
Jan. 16-26, 2010

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