The Dybbuk – Film Screening

Film Screening Poland, 1937, 123 minutes. Yiddish with English subtitles. Admission: $15 YIVO members & students: $10 This event has been postponed until further notice.

The Dybbuk (1937) is a Yiddish film based on the celebrated play of the same name by S. An-ski, written during the turbulent years of 1912-1917. The idea for the play came to An-ski as he led a Jewish folklore expedition through small towns of Eastern Europe, which was cut short by the outbreak of World War I. The Dybbuk reflects An-ski's deep perception of the shtetl's religious and cultural mores, as well as his insightful appreciation of its hidden spiritual resources. The play became one of the most widely-produced in the history of Jewish theater. Its rich ethnographic tapestry, mystical themes, star-crossed lovers and haunting melodies were designed to bridge the historical abyss.

Boundaries separating the natural from the supernatural dissolve as ill-fated pledges, unfulfilled passions and untimely deaths ensnare two families in a tragic labyrinth of spiritual possession. This film version of the play was made on location in Poland in 1937 and brought together the best talents of Polish Jewry, script writers, composers, choreographers, set designers, actors and historical advisors. The film's exquisite musical and dance interludes evoke the cultural richness of both shtetl communities and Polish Jewry on the eve of World War II.

Join us for a screening of this classic film, in a new digital restoration with new English subtitles by The National Center for Jewish Film.