The Dybbuk (1937)

The film is highly stylized. One of the dance sequences is like a Brueghel painting sprung to life; the living mingle with the dead physically and thus emotionally.

When Caruso heard Sirota sing "Celeste Aida" in a concert, he reportedly thanked God the cantor had chosen "to employ his heavenly gift in a different field." Sirota, born in Russia in 1874, officiated as cantor in Odessa, Vilna and Warsaw. He made cantorial recordings, beginning in 1903. From 1927-35, he sang concerts throughout Europe and in the U.S. He and his family perished in the Warsaw ghetto in 1943. In this film he is heard for a few minutes. The Dybbuk was filmed on location in Kazimierz, Poland, and in a Warsaw studio, in 1937.

The Dybbuk is the most widely produced play in the history of Jewish theater. It has been performed in Yiddish, Hebrew, German, Polish, English, Ukranian, Swedish, Bulgarian, Czech, Serbian, French and Japanese.--Stefan Zucker

Not the "Dybbuk" DVD to get

I saw this film several years ago in NYC when it was first restored by the National Center for Jewish Film, and it was an incredible job. Their DVD is the one to get. I bought Bel Canto's VHS version, and it had the same captioning (rather, NON-captioning) problems that their DVD here apparently has.

The movie is simply incredible and powerful. Highly recommended. But NCJF's version is best. Fully captioned, and contains all extant footage.
www.jewishfilm.org
October 9, 2008

tragic misrepresentation of a classic film.....

For everyone who has enjoyed Parker Tyler's "Classics of the Foreign Film," be aware--this title is completely misrepresented. It is entirely in Yiddish, contains no subtitles (no menu option), and is sonically garbled. The liner notes make a great fuss about PCM Audio formats and Lavry engineering--but so what, if you can't understand a line of dialog.

Anyone who watches this film for even five minutes can tell it is a masterpiece. Unfortunately, the desire for profits has, in the present case, superseded any sense of morality or responsibility. And what a monstrous injustice to the doomed inhabitants of Warsaw who participated in the filming of this great work of art!

I have no idea whether there are decent prints of "The Dybbuk" available. But better nothing than this! (And even the cheapest public domain issuers have the decency to supply subtitles--this is simply criminal. Shame on you, Stephen Zucker! Re-issuing Tauber and Jan Kiepura doesn't give you the right to rip off classic film lovers.)

UPDATE: After forwarding through the chapters, I find that only the first ten minutes of the film lack subtitles. After that, subtitles magically appear, although many of the sequences--especially the musical ones--still lack translations, and the subtitles are often impossible to read due to washout. In addition, the subtitling is cursory and many nuances of characterization are lost, although the plot is at least intelligible.

So, I would rate this a 5-star film with a 1- or 2-star presentation. I have a feeling this is the best we'll ever get (the film was long believed to be lost), and the audio is badly deteriorated to boot, but Bel Canto must be given credit for at least making the film available, albeit imperfectly.

February 11, 2008

Masterpiece of Yiddish cinema: The Dybbuk

This is a first-rate version of the Yiddish classic, which tells the story of a dybbuk - the soul of a dead person who can't let go of someone he/she loved, and returns to inhabit the body of his/her beloved. It was filmed in Poland before the war with the participation of the Jewish community, and besides offering an aesthetic/dramatic feast, gives a highly illuminating picture of Jewish life in central Europe before the Holocaust. A must-see for anybody with an interest in the history of the cinema. And when you've seen this, see the German silent picture The Golem. January 11, 2007

"One Comes Into The World, Another Leaves" ~ Penetrating The Mysticism Of The Kabala

Note: Yiddish with English subtitles.

`The Dybbuk', released in '37 is a cinematic time capsule providing the viewer with a mesmerizing glimpse into a world that no longer exists. While '37 was a long time ago (70 years come 01/07) the film has a feel, no an atmosphere, that seems much older. Filled with magic, superstition and Jewish mysticism, it is a veritable compendium of Yiddish culture, religious practice and belief. While such subject matters will clearly command the attention of a very select audience it is an immensely important film nevertheless.

Synopsis: Two young people, Leah (Lili Liliana) and Channon (Leon Liebgold), fall hopelessly in love but are unable to wed because Leah's Father plans for her to wed a wealthier suitor. Heartbroken, Channon turns from his pious ways and calls upon the "Powers of Darkness" to come to his rescue and help him secure his desired bride. Unfortunately Satan isn't in the business of bringing young lovers together to live happily ever after. Only sadness and grief lie ahead.

This is really quite a watch, kind of an Ingmar Bergman's 'The Seventh Seal' meets `Fiddler On The Roof' with a little touch of `The Exorcist' thrown in for good measure. Definitely not for everyone, but if you're in the mood for something totally different and are willing to put in the time and attention to explore the darker teachings of Kabala and Jewish mysticism this will serve as a great primer. December 29, 2006

exceptional

I saw this movie many years ago. This is a deeply moving story and I think Bergman must have seen it for it predates Bergman but is done in the same style that he uses. It is eery and tragic beyond anything. A spirit simply materializes on a road (this is 1937) and warns two fathers about plighting their son and daughter into matrimony. Tragic events ensue. A great and heart rending love story. December 3, 2006

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