SAN FRANCISCO JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL | SFJFF 2009

Backseat Bingo, SFJFF's online short for January 2010, is a candid animated exploration of the romantic lives of single Jewish seniors. The seniors interviewed in Backseat Bingo are not shy, and thank goodness, neither is director Liz Blazer. Liz spoke with SFJFF recently about her friendships with the film's interviewees and the lessons they taught her about love, romance, and how to stay young at heart while growing older.

What inspired you to make this film?

My grandfather, at eighty-two years old, fell in love. This happened after his wife of sixty years passed away, and he was in a deep, doleful depression. Then he met Ruth. She moved into his apartment complex and my grandfather was instantly transformed. They had a youthful, silly, puppy love. Hairs grew out of the top of his head for the first time in half a century. My grandfather giggled, danced and wrote love letters. His senior citizen love affair with Ruth taught me that love, sex and romance are essential at any age. This film was inspired by Sid and Ruth and the idea that it’s never too late to fall in love.

I chose to make an animated documentary because I wanted to remove the audience from the preconceptions they might have about senior citizens and aging. I wanted to show these folks in the most wise, vital and compassionate way that I could - literally animated. The 80 to 90 year olds that I've seen on TV and in the movies are portrayed as sickly or mentally impaired - I created sweet animated caricatures so as to allow the audience to focus on what the characters are actually saying about companionship and the universality of romantic longing, and judge them based only on that.

What was your greatest challenge during the filmmaking process?

The biggest challenge in making Backseat Bingo was finding and befriending a group of seniors who were generous enough to share their stories with me, and willing to talk about sex.  I asked around for months searching for a group of passionate vital seniors who were willing to talk about sex. I finally found one, Robert a 93 year old composer who, after getting to know each other introduced to me his clique of fabulous friends. The group I interviewed were all artists (musicians, writers and one sculptor) and were all part of a Walt Whitman literary club. They were excited about being interviewed and were quite candid - knowing the final film would be animated.   I was fortunate to have met the cast of Backseat Bingo, and I cherish their friendship.

Any thoughts you’d like to share about screening this film in a Jewish context?

This film is about the human need for sex and romance.  I am Jewish and am totally inspired by old Jews.

What film/media has inspired you lately?

As an animated documentary filmmaker, and having lived in Israel for a few years - I loved Waltz With Bashir.  It is one of those films that stays with you.  It was visually beautiful, conceptually challenging and amazing storytelling.  I think it is one of the best examples of how animation and documentary can be beautifully blended to deal with sensitive material.

What do you do when you’re not filmmaking?

Teach, illustrate and mother...

Lastly, gefilte fish: delicious, or disgusting?

Not suitable for consumption!