The mystical love story between Chonen, a poor Talmud student, and Lea, a girl from a wealthy family, depicts the traditional folk culture of Polish Jews before WW2.The mystical love story between Chonen, a poor Talmud student, and Lea, a girl from a wealthy family, depicts the traditional folk culture of Polish Jews before WW2.The mystical love story between Chonen, a poor Talmud student, and Lea, a girl from a wealthy family, depicts the traditional folk culture of Polish Jews before WW2.
Avrom Morewski
- Rabbi Ezeriel ben Hodos
- (as A. Morewski)
Ajzyk Samberg
- Meszulach - the messenger
- (as A. Samberg)
Mojzesz Lipman
- Sender Brynicer ben Henie
- (as M. Lipman)
Gerszon Lemberger
- Nisan ben Rifke
- (as G. Lemberger)
Leon Liebgold
- Chanan ben Nisan
- (as L. Liebgold)
Max Bozyk
- Sender's friend Nute
- (as M. Bozyk)
Samuel Landau
- Zalman - swat
- (as S. Landau)
Samuel Bronecki
- Nachman - Menasze's father
- (as S. Bronecki)
Abraham Kurc
- Michael
- (as A. Kurc)
David Lederman
- Meir
- (as D. Lederman)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaSeveral of the actors in the film died in Poland in the Holocaust including: Ajzyk Samberg (Meszulach the Messenger), Samuel Landau (Zalman the Matchmaker), Abraham Kurc (Michael), and Zisze Kac (Mendel).
- Quotes
Meszulach - the messenger: You cannot pledge something as yet unborn.
- Alternate versionsSince it is in public domain, there are versions of the film available on Youtube with a length of 125 minutes, usually ripped from VHS copies from the 1980s, but these are of poor quality. The best available version is a restored print by Lobster Films at 118 minutes from 2016.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Almonds and Raisins (1984)
Featured review
Weak story but fascinating rituals
Sometime in the past, perhaps in the late 19th century, two best friends make a pledge that their children will marry if they should have a son and daughter. A mysterious messenger warns them against pledging the lives of the unborn, but he's ignored with the observation that Jews have always done this. The two men do have a son and daughter, but not without tragedy falling upon both their generation and the next.
This movie is very difficult to follow at the start, with each scene being little more than a one line synopsis of the events eventually leading up to the main story, the ill-fated romance between the son and daughter. The story has an unusual twist not found elsewhere, that of the son becoming a Dybbuk, but there otherwise isn't all that much of interest in the plot or the way it's told as it slowly plods along to its predictable conclusion.
What is interesting, of course, is watching the unique look and feel of a Yiddish movie made by Polish Jews in the 1930s. Much of the imagery is very striking and it's a rare chance to hear a full dose of authentic religious Jewish singing, something which never makes it into American films because of its lack of commercial appeal. The film definitely provides a rewarding experience to viewers who don't necessarily need the entertainment of a good story to keep them interested in the intriguing sights and sounds found in this film.
This movie is very difficult to follow at the start, with each scene being little more than a one line synopsis of the events eventually leading up to the main story, the ill-fated romance between the son and daughter. The story has an unusual twist not found elsewhere, that of the son becoming a Dybbuk, but there otherwise isn't all that much of interest in the plot or the way it's told as it slowly plods along to its predictable conclusion.
What is interesting, of course, is watching the unique look and feel of a Yiddish movie made by Polish Jews in the 1930s. Much of the imagery is very striking and it's a rare chance to hear a full dose of authentic religious Jewish singing, something which never makes it into American films because of its lack of commercial appeal. The film definitely provides a rewarding experience to viewers who don't necessarily need the entertainment of a good story to keep them interested in the intriguing sights and sounds found in this film.
helpful•166
- bobc-5
- Aug 5, 2010
Details
- Runtime1 hour 48 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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