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31st Toronto Jewish Film Festival June 1 - 11, 2023

Queen of the Deuce

Documentary

Screening Information

June 3, 9:15 pm
In-person
Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema

Film Details

Countries Greece, Canada
Year 2022
Running Time 75 MIN
Languages English, Greek
Subtitles English
Director Valerie Kontakos

Tagged In The Following Film Lists

Description

Bucking her conservative Jewish upbringing in Thessaloniki at the outbreak of WWII, Chelly Wilson left her family in Greece and sailed to New York where she created a new life. Weaving together archival film, home videos, animation and no-holds-barred interviews with her children, grandchildren and associates, this documentary outlines the unconventional trajectory of Chelly’s “American Dream” story, from her humble beginnings to a trailblazing entrepreneur who built a porn cinema empire in New York’s Times Square of the 1960s and 70's. Combining her sharp business acumen with a healthy dose of chutzpah, it is no wonder she became Queen of the Deuce.

Presentation Details

In-person Guests Producer Ed Barreveld and Film Participant David Bourla, grandson of Chelly Wilson

Presented In Partnership With
Reviews "Improbable tale, one of survival, resilience, and good old-fashioned hustle” IndieWire

“Auntie Mame with the swagger and bluntness of Sophie Tucker” FilmForward
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