Uncovering a history: Filmmaker Dani Rotstein to talk about, screen 'Xueta Island' at Jewish Community Center

It’s been years since Dani Rotstein visited New Mexico.

“The last time I was there, I was shooting a Subaru TV commercial,” he says. “I feel like I’m in a totally different place.”

The Spain-based filmmaker is returning to Albuquerque to present a screening of the documentary, “Xueta Island: A Hidden History” at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 7, at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Albuquerque.

“Xueta Island” explores the fascinating legacy of the Xuetas (pronounced Chuetas): a unique group of families on the Balearic island of Majorca who are believed to be descendants of the island’s Inquisition-era Jewish population.

Most of the families were forced to renounce their Judaism and officially convert, which functionally “eliminated” Jewish life in Majorca. Yet many continued to practice their Judaism in secret.

Though they were practicing Catholics, the Xuetas were discriminated against up until the middle of the 20th century, always forced to marry within their subgroup population.

It is estimated that there are roughly 20,000 Xuetas living on the island today.

Current-day Majorca presents a compelling case study for silenced Judaism, as practicing Catholic families cite Jewish “traditions” that date back centuries, without ever being openly acknowledged or explained.

Rotstein says the documentary follows him, a Jewish American expat who moved to the island recently and quickly became fascinated with the story.

Years of research were done prior to production beginning in 2019.

Rotstein and co-directors Ofer Laszewicki and Felipe Wolokita began presenting the documentary to the world in 2022.

“I’m excited about bringing it to New Mexico because the area has a long history with Crypto Jews,” he says. “There’s a connection with those living in Majorca and New Mexico.”

Rotstein says Majorca didn’t allow international tourism until the 1930s.

Uncovering a history: Filmmaker Dani Rotstein to talk about, screen 'Xueta Island' at Jewish Community Center

Since he lives in Majorca, Rotstein was able to connect with other Jewish families to learn about the history.

“It was a very complicated shoot and editing process,” he says. “We actually filmed most of the film in 10 days. I was the sole producer and got friends and family to get the budget to fly in Ofer and Felipe to help direct. At the time, both were living in Israel. Ofer grew up in Barcelona, and he’s a journalist and spoke the language.”

Rotstein says the documentary is being used as an investigative piece.

“The idea was never to really make a film that was entertaining,” he says. “We made a film to understand and take a pulse of the Jewish community in Majorca in 2018. With the idea of is it good or not good to encourage people to connect to their roots.”