The Dybbuk
(1960/E1 DVD) + The World of Sholom
Aleichem (E1 DVD)
Picture:
D Sound: D Extras: D Main Programs: C
A young
woman becomes possessed by her former lover when her father arranges her
marriage to a more wealthy suitor. Now
the angry spirit is unwilling to let go his 'bride' and the father is forced to
summon the rabbi to exorcise this spirit from her daughter, but who and why is
this spirit there? The past is revealed
and a long forgotten promise made by her father is remembered...
This is the age old tale of 'Romeo and Juliet' with a Jewish twist. A story of two star-crossed lovers who were
promised to each other even before they where born. Years later after they grew up, fate brought
them together once more, but when the girl's father forgets his promise,
tragedy strikes and the youth dies of broken heart. Now his spirit reside in young woman's body
preventing her impending marriage, leaving the girl's father little choice
but to summon a rabbi to save her daughter. Only the power of the rabbi
can exorcise this spirit... but not without revealing the truth.
This was a Jewish story, a 'Dybbuk' is said to be a spirit which
resides in the body of another until it has no more regrets and is 'purified'. This was not only a tale of young
tragic love, but also a tale to teach Jewish values and traditions, to
obey the father, to not forget promises, and in the end the rabbi
always has the final word. You
could tell the play was written to instill these values
for a Jewish audience, that without respect and obedience to
elders only leads to tragedy.
+
This
second disc consists of three short plays which was written by Sholom Aleichem,
who claimed to be the Yiddish Mark Twain, or was credited as such. Three different tales of Jewish people, how
they view the world, how they lived their lives with laughter and dignity.
"A Tale of Chelm", "Bontche Schweig", and "The High
School".
In the "Tale of Chelm" is
about a town full of Jews, how foolish, practical jokes are played on one another
and then to laugh about themselves afterwards. In "Bontche
Schweig" is the tale of man who died an entered the gates of
heaven, after suffering all his life angels pleads his case before God. And in "The High School" is about a young boy who wants to attend high
school for a modern education but then encounters discrimination for his faith.
These
short stories were like sort of like Aesop's fairy tales, teaching other how to
laugh at the mistakes of foolish behavior, to live life humbly, and the enduring
spirit of Jewish suffering in modern culture. It shows the values and spirit of which Jews
are supposed to be so proud of.
I thought
both were average overall, but that the picture and sound were just too rough,
but those interested will want to check them out just the same as they are
sincere efforts, though I wonder if one has to really know Judaism to really
get the full impact.
- Ricky Chiang
