Irving Saraf

Fidel

Saul Landau, Irving Saraf

Fidel Castro

This film provides a unique view of Cuba's leader, containing fascinating archive footage of the Bay of Pigs invasion and scenes of Che Guevara - alongside interviews with political prisoners.

In the Shadow of the Stars

Irving Saraf, Allie Light

A hilarious and affectionate look at the path to stardom inside the competitive world of opera. Filmmakers Allie Light and Irving Saraf relegate the divas to the background and focus on a limelight-craving group of "choristers" -- the seldom-noticed singers who stand behind the soloists portraying peasants, soldiers and slaves.

Possum Trot - The Life and Work of Calvin Black 1903-1972

Irving Saraf, Allie Light

Calvin Black was a folk artist who lived in California's Mojave Desert and created more than 80 life-size female dolls, each with its own personality, function, and costume. He also built the "Bird Cage Theater," where the dolls perform and sing in voices recorded by the artist. The film works on two levels. One is the documentation of the artist's legacy and commentary on women: grotesque female figures moving in the desert wind and the theater with its frozen "actresses," protected by his widow from a world she views as hostile. The other is the re-creation of the artist's vision through the magic of film, as the camera enables the dolls to move and sing and brings theater to life as the artist imagined it.

The Sermons of Sister Jane: Believing the Unbelievable

Irving Saraf, Allie Light

When Sister Jane Kelly discovers sexual molestation and thievery, she carries her battle all the way to Rome creating a scandal; this leads her to debunk church teachings on birth control, homosexuality, married priests and virgin birth and become a champion for the poor. Her courage, wit and humanity shine throughout the film.