Genre
Synopsis
Sasha, a 12-year-old Jewish girl studying to be a dancer, is in an automobile accident. She loses her parents and her foot. She can no longer dance, which makes her bitter and angry. She relocates to a small red state town and lives with her grandmother (Polina) who she barely knows (and who is hiding a terrible secret). As Sasha studies for her Bat Mitzvah, she finds herself caught between her stern Hebrew school teacher who believes that suffering makes you a better person and a better Jew and her grandmother who believes in modern American Judaism, hearty eating and wisdom sharing through cooking lessons. As she struggles to make a new life, understand the politics of the diverse town and mentally overcome her new physical state, Sasha meets a 13-year-old Muslim girl, Alia, who is an immigrant and is constantly harassed by local bullies. They’re always chasing her and she’s always running away. During one such incident, Alia knocks on Sasha’s door begging for help. Sasha lets her in. The boys chasing her also enter the house. The girls find themselves by the attic -- the door to it has been locked and chained for decades. Sasha has been warned not to go into the attic. Suddenly, the locked chain opens and the two girls rush upstairs where they meet Hannah – a 10-year-old ghost from the Holocaust who used to be Polina’s friend and who has haunted the old woman all her life. We learn that Polina has known that Hannah is in the attic. At first, Sasha and Alia are petrified of Hannah, but gradually they like her. She helps them understand the bad things that have happened to them. Hannah and Polina come to terms too. Sasha and Alia learn to accept that bad things happen to good people and that there is no grand plan or reason why, but despite it all, you can still find happiness. Meanwhile, the citizens of the town, upon learning of the girls’ disappearance turn on one another, dropping the veil of equality. In the end, Sasha dedicates her Bat Mitzvah to Hannah. Sasha is once again happy and can start a new life.
Bio
Shari Berman is an award-winning filmmaker, published writer and film editor. Shari’s features include My Life As Abraham Lincoln, Sugar! and Detention 101. She is gearing up to direct her next feature complete with her award-winning script – The Ghost in the Attic. This will be mostly shot in front of a green screen and only Shari knows what images will be placed in the background; you never know what you are going to get but I’m sure it will be worth the cost of the popcorn with extra fake butter and a ton of salt. If nothing else, watching the actors watch what she has done will be something to behold. She edits all her films and began editing as a small child by cutting puzzle pieces to make them fit as she thought best, creating some very strange pictures. Shari knew even then that she was on to something and has embarked on a life of making one weird picture after the next. She just won’t stop. Really, there isn’t anything you can do about it so you might as well join in the fun, check out her films and embrace the weird. Besides, they are bound to catch up with you someday and it’s best not to let them catch you off-guard. Her screenplay Numbers is available from Screenplay Press in paperback and ebook. Shari grew up in Co-op City in the Bronx and is a member of Film Fatales, the FilmmakeHers and New York Women Filmmakers. She enjoys mentoring artistic people and striving to eat as much sushi and shrimp chips as humanly possible. I suspect she has mercury poisoning
Awards History
Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival - Screenplay Semi Finalist
Las Vegas International Film and Screenwriting Festival - Best Family Drama Screenplay Winner
