Yiddish
Israel & Palestine • 1h 0m
Directed by Nurith Aviv • Documentary • 2020 • 61 minutes
In Nurith Aviv’s unexpected, original documentary, seven young interviewees share their love for Yiddish avant-garde poetry written between the World Wars. An expressive hybrid “jargon” with roots in Hebrew, German and Slavic languages, Yiddish has been shamed, banned, and nearly wiped out, but it’s a vernacular with rich political, historical, religious, socio-economic and literary import. In her spirited film, Aviv brings its ancient words to life.
“Must see! Nurith Aviv turns her attention to the storied tongue of Eastern Europe Jews. From Paris, Berlin, Vilnius and Warsaw, her interviewees make ancient words resonate today” —Le Monde
Up Next in Israel & Palestine
-
The Idol
Directed by Hany Abu-Assad • Drama • With Qais Attaallah, Heba Attaallah, Ahmad Qassim • 2016 • 95 minutes
Gaza. Synonymous to so many with conflict, destruction and despair but to Mohammed Assaf, and his sister Nour, Gaza is their home and their playground. It’s where they, along with their be...
-
Open Bethlehem
Directed by Leila Sansour • Documentary • 2017 • 90 minutes
Reports predict that if trends continue the Christian community of Bethlehem, a city that provides a model for a multi-faith Middle East, may be unsustainable within one generation. The enormous wall and ongoing Israeli settlements are ...
-
Mountain
Directed by Yaelle Kayam • Drama • With Shani Klein, Avshalom Polak, Haitham Omri, Orly Pearl • 2015 • 81 minutes
In 'Mountain,' a young Orthodox Jewish woman becomes involved with a nocturnal community of prostitutes and drug dealers. Tzvia lives with her family in the Jewish cemetery on Jerusa...