Number Our Days

Number Our Days is a heartwarming and thought-provoking documentary directed by Lynne Littman and released in 1976. Featuring ethnographer Barbara Myerhoff and fellow narrative scholar Harry Asimow as lead characters, the film offers insightful glimpses of life in the modern world while shedding light on the importance of remembering and honouring one's heritage. This documentary won an Academy Award for Best Short Subject Documentary in 1977.

Set in the realm of Venice Beach, California, the film dives deep into the daily lives of elderly Jewish residents, often immigrants or children of immigrants from Eastern Europe. Key settings include an old synaguogue and the Israel Levin Senior Adult Center, dominantly led by elderly discontinuous Jewish Holocaust survivors. These avenues become the heartland for heartening interactions, revealing the sheer necessity of unity, cultural preservance, and narrative transmission.

Number Our Days follows Barbara Myerhoff's immersive journey into the Jewish community at Venice Beach. As she becomes an on-the-ground part of these people's community, Myerhoff identifies, studies, and reports everyday activities - from shared meals, philosophical discussions, to singing songs from their homelands and religious practices. Anchoring the documentary is first-person narration by Myerhoff herself, providing audiences with an intimate portrait of the anthropological arena she's examining.

Barbara Myerhoff's friendship with Harry Asimow, an engaging and expressive teller of Eastern European Jewish folklore, adds a lively, charming dynamic to the narrative. Asimow, with his rich collection of stories brimming with nostalgia, humor, and wisdom, serves as a vital link between the past and the present for the subjects of Myerhoff's study.

Myerhoff’s interest in the Jewish community is not merely academic. As a descended Jewish herself, the film is also a journey of self-discovery, a step towards reconnecting with her own Jewish heritage. Myerhoff’s personal exploration roots itself in her struggles with her past, her identity, and her purpose amidst the unescapable finiteness of life. Hence, Number Our Days is not just a tale of the elderly Jewish subjects, but also of Barbara herself, and her quest for understanding her place in the world.

On the technical front, Number Our Days distinguishes itself with its masterful cinematography. Littman captures the life and spirit of the elderly community with an unflinching, unabashed lens that's both mindful and respectful. Unvarnished visuals combined with simple but clever editing help communicate not only the story, but also the very texture of the community's life, making the viewing experience all the more immersive and relatable.

The heart of Number Our Days lies in its exploration of memory, old age, and cultural heritage. As the film's subjects narrate their life stories — stories of their migration to America, blotched with recollections of war, strife, and loss — there's a clear emphasis on the power of narrative in maintaining identity and continuity amidst inevitable death and the fading away of an era. The film reminds us how everyone has a story to tell, that these stories are often hugs of wisdom, humor, strength, and that it's crucial that they're heard, shared, and remembered.

A prominent theme of the film is the idea of 'cross-generational communication'. Myerhoff and her subject's shared Jewish identity bridges the gap between generations. Through these old folks, she vicariously finds herself connecting with her Jewish roots, conveying the importance of mutual cultural understanding between generations.

Another major theme is resilience. The film portrays an incredibly jovial elderly community with a vivacious zest for life, highlighting their determination to celebrate their present moments despite their challenging past and looming mortality. The spirit of these seniors and their stories, preserved and transmitted through narratives, is a testament to the strength of spirit - something the film portrays with unforgettable grace and sincerity.

Number Our Days is not your typical documentary. Between the honest, direct portrayals of life in an aging Jewish community and the deeper thematic deliberations on memory, resilience, and cultural heritage, the film offers a beautiful multilayered narrative. It is an authentic exploration of the human condition — a testimony to the power and significance of story-telling in shaping our lives and our sense of self. Watch it for its raw, honest portrayal, its profound reflections on life, and its lingering reminder of the permanence and power of narratives in our lives.