“Everyone wants to find love,” says the lead character in Israeli filmmaker Avi Nesher’s The Matchmaker (Pa’am Hayiti). Of course, that main character makes his living matching up unlikely pairs, in addition to his side job of smuggling. When 16-year-old Arik takes up a summer job with the Matchmaker, he discovers the unique world inhabited by his new mentor — prostitution, illegal gambling and the wonders of love. Nominated for seven awards at the Israeli Academy Awards, the film was such a hit at the Houston Jewish Film Festival it returns to kick off this year’s Summer Israeli Film Series. 7:30 p.m. The Jewish Community Center Kaplan Theatre, 5601 South Braeswood. For information, call 713-729-3200 or visit www.jcchouston.org.

Wed., June 29, 2011

This article appears in Jun 23-29, 2011.