JIFF26 Sapiro v. Ford

In the 1920s, Henry Ford used his slew of newspapers to incite anti-Jewish hatred across the USA, testing the limits of hate speech long before laws existed to protect against it. This documentary tells the riveting true story of Aaron Sapiro, a young Jewish lawyer who risked everything to take on one of America’s most powerful man and stand up against antisemitism.  From his humble beginnings as an orphan in San Francisco to his leadership of a national movement empowering farmers, Sapiro’s life was a testament to courage, vision, and justice. In this documentary, Sapiro’s words are presented in their entirety through actor Ben Shenkman, filmed as if speaking directly to a modern audience, interspersed with historical footage which illuminates the stakes of his confrontation with Ford.  Today, as antisemitism rises and the struggle to balance free speech with protection against hate continues, Sapiro v. Ford examines the enduring question: how can societies confront power, prejudice and propaganda while upholding justice?