Last weekend, acclaimed Canadian director Ivan Reitman passed away at 75. The director of such 1980s classic comedies as Ghostbusters, Meatballs and Stripes was not only one of the most prominent and influential Jewish Canadians in Hollywood, but an integral part of the Canadian film industry, whose name and impact has become synonymous with the Toronto International Film Festival.

Len Blum, Reitman’s longtime friend and screenwriting collaborator, joins The CJN’s weekly current affairs podcast Bonjour Chai to discuss the late filmmaker’s work, his deep Jewish heritage and how his family’s background as Holocaust survivors led him to the career that would make him famous.

Plus, the hosts discuss whether Reitman’s films actually hold up in 2022, and how former Bonjour Chai host Melissa Lantsman is making international headlines for clashing with Justin Trudeau in the House of Commons.

Credits

Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by The CJN Podcast Network. Find more great Jewish podcasts at thecjn.ca.