TheArchive: Reviewing the Rare, Retro, and Restored

The shortest day of the year is just around the corner—Thursday, December 21st! That's right, it's the winter solstice ! As the world braces itself for the longest night, why not make it extra special by cozying up with films that capture the essence of Christmas and Winter? And we've got just the movie to kick off your solstice movie marathon: Unlikely Angel , a 1996 film directed by Michael Switzer, featuring none other than the legendary Dolly Parton as well as Roddy McDowal l.  In the heartwarming world of Unlikely Angel , lounge singer Ruby Diamond, played by Parton, meets her untimely death due to being killed in a car crash, only to discover that her entry into heaven relies on her doing one selfless act on back on Earth. She is denied entrance into Heaven by St. Peter because of the selfish way in which she had lived her life. For penance, she must reunite a family by finding a mother for two children and their widowed father. This leads to hilarious misunderst...

  The countdown to Christmas is like waiting for your favorite holiday dessert to come out of the oven, there is so much anticipation and the excitement is contagious. But in the meantime, what better way to fill those days than with the magic of Christmas movies ?  We all have the one Christmas film that allows us to unapologetically embrace the nostalgia of the season and lets us know that the most wonderful time of the year has arrived, but Instead of rewatching Christmas films you’ve seen time and time again, add some classics you may have missed to your watch list.  Christmas Lilies of the Field stands out as a true gem that deserves a special spot in your festive movie lineup. Released in 1979, this heartwarming film tells a tale of generosity and community. What sets this film apart is its ability to blend humor, emotion, and a sprinkle of Christmas magic. The plot goes as follows: While passing through, Homer decides to visit the chapel he helped the nuns build ...

Hanukkah- or Chanukah- officially begins on the evening of Thursday, December 7th. For those celebrating Hanukkah , the Festival of Lights, the first night marks the beginning of an eight-day event that is filled with meaning. The central Hanukkah custom revolves around the nightly lighting of the menorah. This symbolic object draws inspiration from the Temple lampstand and takes the form of a candelabra. Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after a successful revolt by the Maccabees, a group of Jewish warriors, against the oppressive rule of the Seleucid King Antiochus IV. According to the story , when the Maccabees reclaimed the Temple, they found only enough consecrated oil to light the menorah for one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days.  It is a Jewish holiday that centers around unity, reflection, and resilience. Celebrate the beginning of Chanukah with us by watching the documentary It Is No Dream , narrated by Ben Kingsley ...

With the positive news of Israelis and Palestinians being returned to their homes in the Middle East conflict , we wanted to take the time to highlight the documentary Beautiful Music streaming on TheArchive . Beautiful Music is a perfect example of how peace, love, humanity and art can help establish connections and friendships between Palestinians and Israelis even through geopolitical chaos and upheaval.  In this documentary, Rasha Hamad, a 36-year-old Palestinian girl hailing from the northern West Bank, grapples with blindness, mental disabilities, and severe autism. Her ability to play the piano is an extraordinary outcome of an unexpected partnership with Devorah Schramm , an Orthodox Jew, which commenced when Ms. Hamad was just 11 .  Devorah Schramm, an American-born pianist and composer who relocated to Israel in 1975 with her husband Lenn. Settling in Gilo, on the outskirts of Jerusalem, Devorah, a devoutly religious woman, started teaching piano both privately at...