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Lost film by Israeli B-movie director Sam Firstenberg gets new life

From Jerusalem Post · (1d ago) English Positive tone

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Cult B-movie director Sam Firstenberg is experiencing a career revival with a one-night screening of his 1989 film 'Riverbend'.
  • The film, about Black Vietnam veterans liberating a Southern town from a racist sheriff, is part of a revival of interest in Firstenberg's prolific work known for its over-the-top action and niche cultural focus.
  • Firstenberg's versatility is attributed to his upbringing in a multicultural Jerusalem neighborhood, which exposed him to diverse cultures and languages, influencing his filmmaking.

It’s not every day that a cult B-movie director gets a second act, but Sam Firstenberg, the Israeli-born filmmaker behind such beloved cult classics as “American Ninja” and “Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo,” is experiencing just that. The Jerusalem Post is thrilled to see this unexpected revival, particularly for his 1989 action drama “Riverbend.” This film, a powerful story of Black Vietnam veterans confronting racism in the American South, deserves a spotlight, and its upcoming screening at Alamo Drafthouse theaters is a cause for celebration.

I grew up in a neighborhood that consists of a lot of immigrants from all over the world.

— Sam FirstenbergFirstenberg describes his multicultural upbringing in Jerusalem, which he credits for his versatility as a filmmaker.

Firstenberg's career, marked by an unironic commitment to “earnest shlock,” has long been a source of pride for those who appreciate unadulterated, high-octane entertainment. His films, often featuring niche cultures and over-the-top action, have garnered a dedicated following. This resurgence of interest in “Riverbend” could very well reignite appreciation for his entire body of work, spanning over two decades and numerous cult favorites.

So my neighborhood was a melting pot of all kinds of cultures from all over the world. I didn’t understand it. I’m telling you all of this [retrospectively], but I grew up in this, all kinds of different food and cooking and languages, and everybody was talking different languages.

— Sam FirstenbergFirstenberg elaborates on the diverse cultural influences he experienced in his youth in Jerusalem.

What makes Firstenberg’s story particularly resonant for us in Israel is his unique upbringing. Born in Poland and immigrating to Jerusalem as an infant, he grew up in a neighborhood that was a true melting pot of cultures and languages. This immersion in diversity, he himself notes, was crucial to his development as a filmmaker. It’s a testament to how experiences here in Israel, a land of constant cultural exchange, can shape artistic vision in profound ways. We see his journey from the Smadar cinema in Jerusalem to Hollywood as a story of Israeli talent making its mark on the world stage, proving that even “shlock” can have a global impact.

That’s where we were exposed to cinema. So from a very early age, maybe 7 or 6 years old, I would go, and every week he would change the two movies.

— Sam FirstenbergFirstenberg recalls his early exposure to films at the Smadar cinema in Jerusalem, which shaped his cinematic interests.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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