Check Out Okonedo, & Avedon, & Heumann, & More
“Mouse” opens in theaters on Nov. 13. It is an American coming-of-age drama. Here’s the brief premise: Teens Callie and Minnie’s relationship is upended on the eve of their high school senior year. Minnie forms a complicated relationship with Callie’s mother (played by SOPHIE OKONEDO, 58). This film got great reviews after it was shown in film festivals.
Okonedo is a British actress, but she certainly can play an American character. Her American honors include a Tony Award, an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award. She received an Academy Award acting nomination (“Hotel Rwanda”).
Her mother is a white English Jew who married a Black British Nigerian man. Five years after they married, he left Sophie’s mother and moved to Nigeria. Sophie was raised by her mother and her mother’s parents. Sophie was raised Jewish. She strongly identifies as Jewish as an adult.
“Avedon” is a new documentary tracing the life and legacy of RICHARD AVEDON (1923-2004), a very famous photographer. The film was made by Ron Howard. It premiered at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival and opened on Netflix on Nov. 11. The film publicity says: “He captured movie stars and presidents, coal miners and drifters, turning his singular eye to the famous and anonymous alike … [he’s] among the most influential image makers of the 20th century.”
Avedon was born in New York City. His Russian Jewish immigrant father, JACOB ISRAEL AVEDON, advanced from poverty to prosperity. Jacob had a successful dress store on Fifth Avenue. Richard’s mother encouraged her son’s love of fashion and art. Richard joined the YMHA Camera Club at age 12 and he never stopped with a camera.
There is much more to say about Avedon — but the documentary will cover that ground. Just two more things: First, Fred Astaire played a fashion photographer in “Funny Face,” a hit 1957 (color) musical film. Astaire’s character is modeled on Avedon. (See this movie, too!)
Second: 14 people (of some fame) were interviewed in the Avedon film. Three are Jewish: JOEL MEYEROWITZ, 88, a famous photographer; JOHN LAHR, 85, an arts writer (“The New Yorker,” others). Lahr wrote a book about his father, BERT LAHR (the “Cowardly Lion”); and there’s CALVIN KLEIN, 83. Well, you know who Calvin Klein is!
“Being Heumann” is an Apple dramatic film. The film played in theaters one week (Nov. 6) and will begin showing on Apple TV on Nov. 13. Reviews to date have been good.
The film centers on JUDITH HEUMANN (1947-2023). She was disabled and she was a disability rights activist. She also was an internationally known leader.
Heumann grew up in Brooklyn. Her parents were German Jews who escaped Nazi Germany. Many of their relatives died in the Holocaust. Judith contracted polio at 18 months and she lived in a wheelchair most of her life.
The New York City Board of Education barred her, a teacher, from teaching classes in public schools (because she might not be able to get out in a fire, etc.). She sued the board (1970) and the board eventually “surrendered.” She was the first NYC teacher in a wheelchair.
“Being Heumann” focuses on a 28-day occupation (1977) in the San Francisco Federal Building. “Unlawful” occupants were fighting for accessibility laws and equal rights. Heumann led the occupation and she and her colleagues won.
Ruth Madeley, a disabled actress, plays Judith. Mark Ruffalo co-stars as Joseph Califano Jr., the (federal) secretary of health, education and welfare. Califano long refused to “green-light” new accessibility laws. He finally agreed after growing public pressure and the long occupation.
Last week I wrote that “Cupertino,” a CBS/Paramount drama, is a well-written series about two attorneys in Silicon Valley. These lawyers create their own “boutique” law firm and they take on the biggies in “the Valley.”
“Cupertino” premiered on Thursday, Oct. 8, and a new episode has run weekly on following Thursdays. Last week, I wrote I thought CBS/Paramount were going to broadcast (or stream) all this season’s episodes to anyone. For weeks, “Cupertino” was running on Paramount!, on Amazon Prime!, on YouTube! and Pluto! (an app). I never saw this before.
A few days ago, CBS/Paramount added this MESSAGE: Free three (episodes) — Yes — after that you’ll have to pay for a Paramount subscription! “Oy,” I say.
Next week, I will finally write only about the actors, the characters and all the Jewish connections. Not about Paramount, etc.
