THE DYBBUK

Boundaries separating the natural from the natural from the supernatural dissolve as ill-fated pledges, unfulfilled passions and untimely deaths ensnare two families in a tragic labyrinth of spiritual possession. THE DYBBUK is a Yiddish film classic based on the celebrated play by S. Ansky, written during the turbulent years of 1912-1917. The idea for the play came to Ansky as he led a Jewish folklore expedition through the small towns of Eastern Europe. The story reflects Ansky's deep perception of the shtetl's religious and cultural mores, as well as his insightful appreciation of its hidden spiritual resources. The film's exquisite musical and dance interludes evoke the cultural richness of both pre-World War I shtetl communities and polish Jewry on the eve of World War II. In Yiddish with English subtitles.