Quendrith Johnson

LOS ANGELES, CA: LAJFF ROCKS THE HOUSE WITH "SUMO" WRESTLERS FROM... ISRAEL?!

By Quendrith Johnson, Los Angeles Correspondent

Can you believe this for a festival opener:  a bunch of guys in Israel go FULL MONTY meets KARATE (ADULT) KID? That's what happened 8 May at the Writer's Guild Theater on Doheny when the Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival (8 - 13 May) rolled into town this week.

A MATTER OF SIZE stars some plus-sized Israeli head-bangers who decide to parlay their heft into heavy lifting Japanese Sumo style. And the result is incredible, breath-taking in a good way. Distributed by Menemsha Films' Neil Friedman, the bona fide hit is being rolled out in select markets in NY and LA shortly. (If you don't get to see this film in your fly-over state, remote country or province, make sure to catch in on Netflix in the future.)

LAJFF's red carpet opener included Oscar(r)-winner Shirley Jones and husband Marty Ingles, Antwone Fisher, Octopussy's Maud Adams, Twilight Zone's Peter Mark Richman, legendary comedian Jack Carter, Usual Suspect's Ron Gilbert, boxing giant Ken Norton, Social Media Savant Peter Shankman, Consul General of Israel Jacob Dayan, Israeli Actor Shahar Sorek, the makers of A MATTER OF SIZE (with a Q & A closer), Fest Honcho Hilary Helstein, and a sprinkling of other stars. (Leonard Nimoy was slated to appear as well.)

 Check out the festival at  www.lajfilmfest.org. 

*A MATTER OF SIZE  filmmakers/co-directors Erez Tadmor and Sharon Maymon appeared with Sumo Wrestlers: Mark Sagato (6'5", 460 lbs) and Americus Abesamis (6'0", 330 lbs). 

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