Mosaic Film – “Hester Street”

1896. Yankel, a Russian Jew, emigrated to the United States three years earlier & has settled on Hester Street on New York’s Lower East side. He has assimilated into American life, learned English, anglicised his name to Jake & shaved off his beard. The little money he earns allows him to bring his wife, Gitl, & his son over from Russia. BUT, Jake has fallen in love with another woman, Mamie Fein. When his wife & son do arrive, initially he is thrilled, but his happiness is short lived when he realises that Gitl is not “American” looking like Mamie & has trouble assimilating as quickly as he would like. Jake tries to pretend to the outside world that all is well with the marriage, but he still yearns for Maimie. Can the marriage survive these differences &. if not, how will Gitl manage in this new land where she has little support? Just sit back & discover the answer. You won’t be disappointed.  Joan Micklin Silver’s classic acclaimed personal movie is beautifully shot in Black & White, with a Yiddish (with English Subtitles) and an English soundtrack.