Rachel Israel's guest appearances

Rachel Israel

Sandi Klein's Conversations with Creative Women

KUCI: Film School

Lass is More with Josh Lasser

Autism Through Cinema

Debra Granik

Geeta Gandbhir

Nancy Schwartzman

Civia Tamarkin

Michelle Walshe

Joan Kron

Abby Epstein

Irene Taylor Brodsky

Haroula Rose

Tracy Droz Tragos

Luchina Fisher

Rebecca Harrell Tickell

Sara Bernstein

Jerry Rothwell

Kate Hackett

OwlTail

We've addressed concerns in past episodes about autistic characters being portrayed by non-autistic actors. Well here, with Rachel Israel's romantic drama Keep the Change, we get the opportunity to enjoy a film with a predominantly autistic cast. Brandon Polansky plays David, an aspiring filmmaker whose life takes an unexpected turn when he's assigned a partner from his Community Centre workshop in the form of the vivacious and energetic Sarah, played by Samantha Elisofon. We find the presence of non-professional autistic actors to be a refreshing and exciting change from the norm, while also delighting in the representation of autistic individuals as deeply emotional and romantic. There were some concerns about how we were supposed to relate to David as a character who makes a number of distasteful decisions, but we were utterly charmed by his beau, Sarah, played with such energy and verve by Elisofon. We consider the representation of learning difficulties in relation to Sarah's misunderstanding of jokes, as well as the exploration of autism in relation to gender. Keep the Change is being screened as part of our Autism and Cinema season on Tuesday 28th September at 6pm. There will be a talk hosted by Steven Eastwood and the Neurocultures Collective afterwards, and tickets are still available on the Barbican website: https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2021/event/keep-the-change-screentalk If you have any thoughts or comments about this episode, feel free to email us on cinemautism@gmail.com On this episode you hear David Hartley, Janet Harbord, Georgia Bradburn and Alex Widdowson

We've addressed concerns in past episodes about autistic characters being portrayed by non-autistic actors. Well here, with Rachel Israel's romantic drama Keep the Change, we get the opportunity to enjoy a film with a predominantly autistic cast. Brandon Polansky plays David, an aspiring filmmaker whose life takes an unexpected turn when he's assigned a partner from his Community Centre workshop in the form of the vivacious and energetic Sarah, played by Samantha Elisofon. We find the presence of non-professional autistic actors to be a refreshing and exciting change from the norm, while also delighting in the representation of autistic individuals as deeply emotional and romantic. There were some concerns about how we were supposed to relate to David as a character who makes a number of distasteful decisions, but we were utterly charmed by his beau, Sarah, played with such energy and verve by Elisofon. We consider the representation of learning difficulties in relation to Sarah's misunderstanding of jokes, as well as the exploration of autism in relation to gender. Keep the Change is being screened as part of our Autism and Cinema season on Tuesday 28th September at 6pm. There will be a talk hosted by Steven Eastwood and the Neurocultures Collective afterwards, and tickets are still available on the Barbican website: <a href="https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2021/event/keep-the-change-screentalk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2021/event/keep-the-change-screentalk</a> If you have any thoughts or comments about this episode, feel free to email us on <a href="mailto:cinemautism@gmail.com">cinemautism@gmail.com</a> On this episode you hear David Hartley, Janet Harbord, Georgia Bradburn and Alex Widdowson

Keep the Change (2017) dir. Rachel Israel

In Rachel Israel’s endearing feature debut Keep the Change, we meet aspiring filmmaker David (Brandon Polansky), mandated by a judge to attend a social   program at the Jewish Community Center, who  is sure of one thing: he doesn't belong there. But when he's assigned to visit the Brooklyn Bridge with the vivacious Sarah (Samantha Elisofon), sparks fly and his convictions are tested. Their budding relationship must weather Sarah's romantic past, David's judgmental mother (Jessica Walter), and their own pre-conceptions of what love is supposed to look like. Under the guise of an off-kilter New York romantic comedy, Keep the Change does something quite radical in offering a refreshingly honest portrait of a community seldom depicted on the big screen. Rarely has a romcom felt so deep and poignant. Thoroughly charming and quite funny, the film's warmth and candor brings growth and transformation to the characters, and ultimately, to us. Director and writer Rachel Israel stops by to talk about her friendship with lead actor Brandon Polansky, making the short film version of Keep the Change as well as the personal and artistically rewarding process of making this beguiling film.For news and updates go to: kinolorber.com/film/keepthechangeSocial Media:facebook.com/keepthechangefilmBest U.S. Narrative Feature – Tribeca Film FestivalBest New Narrative Director – Tribeca Film FestivalSpecial Mention, Nora Ephron Prize – Tribeca Film Festival100% on Rotten Tomatoes

In Rachel Israel’s endearing feature debut Keep the Change, we meet aspiring filmmaker David (Brandon Polansky), mandated by a judge to attend a social   program at the Jewish Community Center, who  is sure of one thing: he doesn't belong there. But when he's assigned to visit the Brooklyn Bridge with the vivacious Sarah (Samantha Elisofon), sparks fly and his convictions are tested. Their budding relationship must weather Sarah's romantic past, David's judgmental mother (Jessica Walter), and their own pre-conceptions of what love is supposed to look like. Under the guise of an off-kilter New York romantic comedy, Keep the Change does something quite radical in offering a refreshingly honest portrait of a community seldom depicted on the big screen. Rarely has a romcom felt so deep and poignant. Thoroughly charming and quite funny, the film's warmth and candor brings growth and transformation to the characters, and ultimately, to us. Director and writer Rachel Israel stops by to talk about her friendship with lead actor Brandon Polansky, making the short film version of Keep the Change as well as the personal and artistically rewarding process of making this beguiling film. For news and updates go to: <a href="http://kinolorber.com/film/keepthechange" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">kinolorber.com/film/keepthechange</a> Social Media: <a href="http://facebook.com/keepthechangefilm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">facebook.com/keepthechangefilm</a> Best U.S. Narrative Feature – Tribeca Film Festival Best New Narrative Director – Tribeca Film Festival Special Mention, Nora Ephron Prize – Tribeca Film Festival 100% on Rotten Tomatoes

Keep the Change / Film School Radio interview with Director Rachel Israel

Rachel Israel is an artist on several levels. She studied painting at Rhode Island School of Design and went on her to get Masters in Fine Arts at Columbia University. Rachel also happens to be a filmmaker, having directed numerous shorts that have been shown at various Festivals, including Sundance. One of them, "Keep the Change," premiered at the Columbia Film Festival in 2013 and went on to win the top award of Focus Feature Best Film. The feature-length version took home Best US Narrative Feature honors at Tribeca in 2017. The romantic comedy tells the story of two autistic adults who strike up an unlikely and transformative relationship.

Rachel Israel is an artist on several levels. She studied painting at Rhode Island School of Design and went on her to get Masters in Fine Arts at Columbia University. Rachel also happens to be a filmmaker, having directed numerous shorts that have been shown at various Festivals, including Sundance. One of them, "Keep the Change," premiered at the Columbia Film Festival in 2013 and went on to win the top award of Focus Feature Best Film. The feature-length version took home Best US Narrative Feature honors at Tribeca in 2017. The romantic comedy tells the story of two autistic adults who strike up an unlikely and transformative relationship.

Rachel Israel, Filmmaker