Hester Street (1975)

Hester Street: Directed by Joan Micklin Silver. With Steven Keats, Carol Kane, Mel Howard, Dorrie Kavanaugh. In 1896, Russian Jew Yankel Bogovnik has been in the United States for three years and settled where many of his background have: Hester Street, on New York City’s Lower East Side. He has assimilated to American life – learned English, anglicized his name to Jake, and shaved off his beard. He is working at a $12/week job as a seamster, saving up his earnings to be can bring his wife Gitl and their son Yossele to America from Russia. Although he has fallen in love with dancer Mamie Fein, he’s overjoyed when he learns that Gitl and Yossele are coming to America. His happiness at their arrival is damped when he sees that Gitl isn’t “American-looking like Mamie and is having trouble assimilating as quickly as he would like. Except to Mamie, he tries to show a public façade that everything is fine at home with Gitl. But can their marriage survive these differences, and if not, will Gitl be able to manage in this new land where she has little support?

“I saw this movie when it premiered in 1975, and enjoyed it. Thanks to DVDs, we can watch and re-watch movies whenever we want. My wife has also become a fan of this film. The DVDu0026#39;s commentary by director Joan Micklin Silver and her producer husband, Raphael, is fascinating. If you are interested in the process of making movies, these commentaries are always a treasure trove of information and insight into the craft. Silver also directed Crossing Delancy, another classic, especially for anyone of the Jewish-American subculture, or familiar with it, though anyone who likes a love story will enjoy it as well.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eTo learn that the entire budget of Hester Street was $500,000 is astounding. This is a beautiful little movie that is driven by itu0026#39;s story and characters. Here is an unknown Carol Kane, who got the best actress nomination for this one, surrounded by great performances by veteran actors and first time non-actors alike. Doris Roberts does a fantastic job in a big role as the neighbor.”