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Streaming January 13-25, 2023 Digital Screening Room

USA | 72 minutes | 2022

Cycle of Memory

Florida Premiere

In 1945, two depression-era teenagers from Brooklyn, George and Mel, rode their bikes to Philadelphia for an adventure they’d remember for the rest of their lives — until Mel loses his memory to Alzheimer’s. Now over seventy years later, filmmaker Alex Leff and his younger sibling Koby travel the same 100-mile bike ride journey based on the photographs their grandfather took, in order to explore his legacy. Their mission is to recreate the photographs and find out how the places have changed since. As we follow their journey, we cut away to scenes in which Alex meets with family members and his grandfather’s lifelong friend to piece together the life of a man who can no longer remember it himself. Using family footage from 1950s film reels to 1990s video tapes, Cycle of Memory explores the importance of intergenerational connection, healing painful pasts, and leaving a meaningful time capsule for the future.

Accompanying the film premiere is a discussion with director Alex Leff and moderator Carly Orshan, Director of CAJE Teen Department and March of the Living. To view the conversation please click here.

Director's Bio

Directed by Alex Leff

Director Photo
Alex Leff earned a Bachelor of Arts studying documentary film at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. In addition to his studies, Alex directed and produced two feature films on the climate justice movement. Cycle of Memory is Alex’s third documentary feature film.

Cast and Credits

Director

Alex Leff

Screenwriter

Alex Leff

Cinematographer

Alex Leff, Koby Leff

Editor

Mike J. Nichols

Cast

Alex Leff, Koby Leff, Connie Schwartz, Mel Schwartz

Film Info

Year

2022

Country

USA

Run-time

72 minutes

Language

English
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