The Jester (der Purimspiler) March 12, 2009

L.A. premiere of new restoration! This musical drama tells of a lonely wanderer, a circus performer, and Esther, the shoemaker’s daughter, whose family tries to marry her into a prominent family. At the center is a Purim shpil (Purim play) with its parade of costumes and songs. The film’s lively circus and vaudeville music and set pieces offer a glimpse of Warsaw’s then-thriving Yiddish revues. Furthermore, many of the film’s Polish-Jewish crew and actors were killed during the Holocaust, giving the film’s touches of melancholy an even more profound reading for today’s audiences. Directed by Joseph Green (Yiddle with His Fiddle, Mamele) and Jan Nowina-Przybylski. (Poland, 1937, 90 min. In Yiddish with new English subtitles. No MPAA rating.)

Official Website: http://www.skirball.org