Farewell, Mister Haffmann

This film kicks off the 15th Annual Israeli and Jewish Film Festival from Jan. 18-28. Set in occupied Paris, 1941: all members of the Jewish community are instructed to come forward and identify themselves to authorities. Dedicated jeweler Joseph Haffmann (Daniel Auteuil), fearing the worst, arranges for his family to flee the city and offers his employee François Mercier (Gilles Lellouche) the chance to take over his store until the conflict subsides. But his own attempts to escape are thwarted, and Haffmann is forced to seek his assistant’s protection. French with English subtitles, 115 minutes. Sponsored by the Horwitz family.