“Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel” makes its theatrical debut at top indie theaters from September 4-8 in select theaters in New Jersey, New York and California. The film has already won five audience awards at film festivals. The amazing “Cinderella story” making headlines is about a team of nice Jewish baseball players that takes on the world.
“Heading Home” is the David-and-Goliath story of Israel’s national baseball team as it competes for the first time in the World Baseball Classic. After years of crushing defeats, Israel finally ranks among the world’s best in 2017. Its roster includes many Jewish-American major leaguers, most with a tenuous relationship to Judaism, barely any ever having set foot in Israel. Their odyssey takes them from the Holy Land, where they are hailed as modern-day Maccabees, to the tournament in South Korea where they must debunk their reputations as has-beens and wannabes. The connection to Israel that the players forge pushes them to unexpected heights as they represent the country on the world stage.
The film’s incredible success has led to the filming of the sequel currently under production, which follows the 10 Jewish-American baseball players who became dual Israeli citizens to help the country’s team make the 2020 Olympics.
The nine team players featured in the documentary are Cody Decker—just retired; Ike Davis—retired, formerly NY Mets; Josh Zeid—works for the Cubs; Ryan Lavarnway—catcher, currently on the Cincinnati Reds; Jeremy Bleich—pitcher; Corey Baker—pitcher (from New York); John Moscot—injured during series but now on Olympic team; Sam Fuld—works in front office of Phillies; and Ty Kelly—formerly NY Mets.
On September 4, at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, New York, the film will be shown at 7 p.m., with a director Q&A. From September 6 – 8, there will be five screenings a day at noon, 2, 5, 7 and 9 p.m. at the Quad Cinema in New York City, with a director Q&A; and at the Claridge Cinemas in Montclair, New Jersey and the Maplewood Theater in Maplewood, New Jersey.
