Mostly British Film Fest: Shalom Bollywood

The Greta Garbo of India was a sultry Jewish actress named Ruby Myers. Known as Sulochana, she was a silent-era superstar who faded from history. Now she’s back in the spotlight in this eye-opening documentary that explains how Myers, Esther Abraham, Rose Ezra, and Florence Ezekiel left their mark on Indian cinema from the 1920s through the 1960s. Because Hindu and Muslim women refused to be on camera, actors were recruited from small but less strict Jewish communities that had been in India for 2,000 years. It’s a treat to see the rare footage showing the elaborate costumes and sets, not to mention some serious swooning.