Itzhak follows gifted Israeli-American violinist Itzhak Perlman, his struggles as a Polio survivor, and reminds us of the importance of art. And yet, he is so much more than just his music. Yes, that’s why we know him, but there’s even more of a story when he’s not on stage.

This is another documentary that I missed a few years ago and am using Jewish American Heritage Month to catch up on. I regret the delay because this doc on Itzhak Perlman is rather informative. In as much as his musical life is fascinating and compelling enough on its on, I kept finding myself even more interested about the conversations he had with his wife, Toby. Whether its driving through Israel or just sitting at a table to talk, a number of conversations were equally captivating. In all honesty, Toby is as equally prominent in the film as Itzhak.

What’s surprising about Itzhak–running just under 90 minutes–is how it’s not very dependent on archival footage. At best, there’s maybe 10 percent of archival clips. Most of it is what went for present day during the filming, so not quite a decade ago. Regardless of now or then, his Jewish identity is very important. In fact, filmmaker Alison Chernick captures a small glimpse of the Perlmans hosting Shabbos dinner for their family. I personally wouldn’t have the Shabbos moments captured on camera but that’s just me.

While driving around Tel Aviv, Perlman comments, “When you look at the names of the streets of Tel Aviv and if you were to know each personality that the street is named after, you would basically know Israeli history, and a lot of Jewish history, because every person that the street is named after has done something either in the arts, poetry, politics, anything. So, it’s like an education. So, if you look them up, what do you call it, Jewish Google, if you will, wouldn’t it be, you can call it Joogle, that would be nice. Jewish Google.”

Interestingly, Eliezer Ben-Yehuda used to be Eliezer Yitzhak Perlman. You probably wouldn’t know it unless you watched the documentary. Nobody really knows this except for Perlman. It’s a fun fact and it’s something I’m just learning for the first time. I don’t recall it being covered in Daniel Gordis’s book on Israel.

Perlman was gifted from a young age and made an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show as a 13-year-old in 1958. He’d be back a few years later in 1964, including an appearance on the same date as The Rolling Stones. Imagine that! As the documentary notes, all the major classical music stars had come to Israel and none of them suggested him go to Julliard. Can anyone imagine a life where Perlman stays in Israel and never comes to America to study?

During the production timeline, Perlman had been presented by the State of Israel with The Genesis Prize in 2016 and traveled to Jerusalem to accepted.

“This award is so unique in providing an opportunity to do something meaningful with a generous $1 million prize,” Perlman says during the press conference. “Most prizes, you get the prize, and it’s very nice. Here, you get the prize and you give it right back. That’s what makes it so Jewish.”

During a conversation in the film shortly thereafter, Perlman describes the prize as saying it makes you work as charity. Perlman’s wife, Toby, said it was the right decision for them to give primarily to disability and music or a combination thereof because it’s the focus of their lives.

Because the Perlmans are in Israel for The Genesis Prize, there’s a moment where they join the Netanyahus and others for a meal, likely in association with the prize. Following clips from the press conference, there’s a clip from the actual award presentation.

But as I was saying, the small intimate conversations between Itzhak and Toby are among the highlights. Itzhak Perlman had described the chemistry between his teacher in Israel for eight years, his parents, and himself as being “the triangle of hell.” His teacher would give his parents hell and they would subsequently give him hell. If this weren’t enough, his teacher would also give him hell. Itzhak’s mother had been a big worrier and this was passed down to him.

“For me, I think you have to have the ability to evolve,” the violinist says. “Some people don’t have the ability to evolve.”

“But to be fair, growing up the way she grew up, in the ghetto in Poland, and her life, I mean, of course, she would be worried,” remarks Toby, Itzhak’s wife.

Itzhak’s mother was the type not to trust anyone and if they did something good, supposedly a hidden agenda was at play. It builds up to a fascinating conversation about an older generation of Jewry.

“But I think, I do think that people of her age in that generation, Jews, who suffered and struggled, ’cause all Jews suffered and struggled in different ways,” Toby says.” You know, my parents lived in New York. My parents were born in America, and both were the victims of antisemitism here, but I don’t think you can compare it to the experience that your parents had.”

To which Itzhak replies, “That’s true, absolutely.”

If there’s a powerful highlight, it comes when Itzhak Perlman is in conversation late in the film with Tel Aviv violinmaker Amnon Weinstein about Jews coming to Auschwitz with their violins, playing a violin that had survived the Holocaust. They never left their violins, but that didn’t stop the Nazis from confiscating the violins before sending Jews to the gas chambers. There were those who survived because they played the orchestra. Of those who did play in the orchestra, only one or two continued to play after the Holocaust.

When asked why so many Jews play the violin, Isaac Stern once commented, “This is the easiest instrument to pick up ‘and to run away.'” Who knew the instrument had so much power! But speaking of the Holocaust, he’s asked to play “Theme from Schindler’s List.” Perlman comments that when he tours the around, the John Williams composition is “the only piece that people want–ask to play is that.” I can’t blame them–it’s such a powerful piece of music.

Itzhak Perlman is a virtuoso of the violin–Itzhak shows that there’s more to the man than just a violin.

DIRECTOR: Alison Chernick
FEATURING: Itzhak Perlman, Toby Perlman, Billy Joel, Alan Alda, Evgeny Kissin, Mischa Maisky, Martha Argerich

Greenwich Entertainment released Itzhak in theaters on March 9, 2018. Grade: 4/5

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