JIFF: Who Are We

This film is also showing at our sister cinemas, Lido Cinemas and Ritz Cinemas

Who Are We

World Premiere

The story of the Melbourne Jewish community, as told through the eyes of its only dedicated Australian Rules football team: the Ajax Football Club. Formed as a way of fostering a sense of Jewish pride and self-esteem and bringing together the disparate Jewish communities from north and south of the Yarra in the 1950s, the Jackas went on to become one of the most respected clubs in Victoria, winning several premierships and developing players who would one day play in the AFL.

Commemorating the club’s 70th anniversary, this documentary explores Ajax's history and impact over the past seven decades, from its genesis in 1957 to the present, the impacts of antisemitism on its players, the clandestine careers of its Orthodox teammates, and its centrality and importance to the broader Jewish community in Melbourne.

Seventy years on, the Ajax Football Club stands as a living legacy of football, families, and belonging, and a true community club.

Rating

Unclassified 15+

Duration

75 min

Country

Australia

Director

Jeff Shenker,Sean Meltzer