David Baddiel: Jews Don't Count review: Five stars for this primer on antisemitism

David Baddiel: Jews Don't Count
Channel 4 | ★★★★★

To be honest I’m getting just a wee bit sick of antisemitism. My latest analogy is it’s like being in a hypobaric chamber, the pressure infinitesimally increasing day to week to year, the body adjusting as best it can to the bends, until everything explodes. At which point the chamber resets and starts again.

David Baddiel’s documentary Jews Don’t Count on Channel 4 isn’t really about getting those on the controls to alleviate the most recent crush of these last few years, it’s more about trying to get those on the controls, to first recognise that they’re even on the controls. Which is a particularly difficult undertaking when they see themselves as the type of people who’d never ever touch the controls, they’re anti-controls, if fact they’re against all forms of controls, they don’t have a control bone…alright, enough of this analogy!

I don’t need to tell you how insidious a racism antisemitism is, but we’re not who this was made for. It’s always good to be given a reminder, to have some of the most modern forms of this ancient prejudice clearly articulated, but like the book this is based on, this is a primer, a beginner’s guide, and under that remit it does its job very well.

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David Baddiel spent time in the US with fellow comedian Sarah Silverman (Photo: Channel 4)

Part lecture and part interviews and clips to back up the point, the hypocrisy of identity politics is laid bare when it comes to Jews. Even being familiar with the various examples, anger and disbelief still swell up at the blatancy, the ignorance, the unfairness. Whoopi Goldberg’s words are particularly jaw dropping, but Baddiel’s calm self-deprecating presence isn’t interested in allocating blame, he’s more interested in analytically laying out the ever more precarious position our people somehow find ourselves in yet again.

Yes there’s the usual cop out about Israel, yes I don’t think Miriam Margolyes should be anywhere near a documentary about antisemitism, but this is like coming in with a degree in astrophysics to point out what’s missing in a primary school maths book, which has been written by someone with a degree in astrophysics. Anyone who did any homeschooling knows how difficult it is to teach basic foundations, and Baddiel as one of the most recognisable Jews in this country, his work and presence straddling many aspects of British culture, is perfectly placed and skilled to highlight the increasing bigotry afflicting Jews.

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David Baddiel speaking to author Neil Gaimon for 'Jews Don't Count' (Photo: Channel 4)

This is an enlightening and even entertaining programme, helped by enlightening and entertaining guests including David Schwimmer and Sarah Silverman, that will hopefully shift the conversation. Particular praise should go out to Jason Lee, in an awkward but necessary scene where Baddiel apologises for his own past failings. Lee’s obviously still hurt and angry, justifiably so, but his mature generous response shows him to be a real mensch.

As evidenced by the tide of online antisemitism I’ve seen merely in anticipation of this documentary, I’m not sure how many of those who most need to watch this will. But that it does exist, and that there are people who’ll watch this and understand and hopefully change, for that we should be very grateful.

David Baddiel's documentary, Jews Don't Count, is available now on All4

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Television

Antisemitism

David Baddiel: Jews Don't Count TV review: Five stars for this primer on antisemitism

Topics: