Among the first releases in the new wave of independent films of the 1970s, writer/director Joan Micklin Silver's portrait of turn-of-the-century New York is also important for its unflinching look at women's issues. Russian Jewish immigrant Gitl (Carol Kane) joins her husband Jake (Steven Keats) in New York after he has gone ahead to establish himself. Jake has quickly assimilated many American customs, much to the dismay of Gitl, who clings to her Old World ways. Gitl's discovery of how Jake was able to finance her trip ...
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Among the first releases in the new wave of independent films of the 1970s, writer/director Joan Micklin Silver's portrait of turn-of-the-century New York is also important for its unflinching look at women's issues. Russian Jewish immigrant Gitl (Carol Kane) joins her husband Jake (Steven Keats) in New York after he has gone ahead to establish himself. Jake has quickly assimilated many American customs, much to the dismay of Gitl, who clings to her Old World ways. Gitl's discovery of how Jake was able to finance her trip to America leads to more tension, and Gitl is soon on her own with few resources on which to draw. Although the film performed modestly at the box office, it was a sign of changing times when Kane's quietly assured performance was nominated for an Academy award, a rare recognition by Hollywood of a film made outside the studio system. Tom Wiener, Rovi
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Add this copy of Hester Street to cart. $14.00, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Movies rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2015 by Kino Lorber.
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Steven Keats, Doris Roberts, Mel Howard, Carol Kane. Very good. 1975 Run time: 90. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Digital copy/codes may be expired or not included. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Hester Street [Blu-Ray] to cart. $14.99, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Movies rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2015 by Kino Lorber.
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Mel Howard, Doris Roberts, Steven Keats, Carol Kane. Very good. 1975 Run time: 90. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Digital copy/codes may be expired or not included. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Hester Street to cart. $16.13, good condition, Sold by PaceSetter Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Saint Charles, IL, UNITED STATES, published 2015 by Kino Lorber.
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Good. Size: 7x5x0; Former library item, with the typical library stamps and markings. Case has light surface wear. DVD has some minor scratches that won't affect playability; guaranteed to play.
Add this copy of Hester Street [Dvd] to cart. $16.49, very good condition, Sold by Arroway Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Narberth, PA, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Homevision.
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Good. Ex-Library rental. Disc(s) are professionally cleaned and free of scratches. Includes disc(s), case, and artwork. Disc(s), case, and artwork may contain library/security stickers and ink writing. Case and artwork may show some wear. If applicable, digital copies may not be redeemable. All disc(s) are authentic.
Add this copy of Hester Street to cart. $27.00, new condition, Sold by newtownvideo rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from huntingdon valley, PA, UNITED STATES, published 2022 by Cohen Film Collection.
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Doris Roberts, Dorrie Kavanaugh, Mel Howard, Steven Keats, Carol Kane. New. Run time: 90. Buy with confidence-Satisfaction Guaranteed! Delivery Confirmation included for all orders in the US.
Add this copy of Hester Street to cart. $39.51, new condition, Sold by newtownvideo rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from huntingdon valley, PA, UNITED STATES, published 2022 by Cohen Film Collection.
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Doris Roberts, Dorrie Kavanaugh, Mel Howard, Steven Keats, Carol Kane. New. Run time: 90. Buy with confidence-Satisfaction Guaranteed! Delivery Confirmation included for all orders in the US.
Add this copy of Hester Street to cart. $50.14, new condition, Sold by Wonder Book - Member ABAA/ILAB rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Frederick, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2004.
Among the many cultural events in the Washington, D.C. area is an annual Jewish Film Festival. This year marked the 25th annual festival, and it featured as a "centerpiece evening" the 1975 film "Hester Street" shown at the American Film Institute in Silver Spring, Maryland. The film received the festival's "Annual Visionary Award" which "recognizes creativity and insight in presenting the full diversity of the Jewish experience through the moving image." The director of the film, Jean Micklin Silver, and the leading actress, Carol Kane, received the award. Carol Kane was present at the screening and gave a presentation.
Set in 1896 in New York City's Lower East Side, Hester Street tells a story of immigrant Jewish experience. The film was based on a short novel by Abraham Cahan (1860 -- 1951), an immigrant writer and activist and publisher of the Yiddish newspaper the "Jewish Daily Forward". The film explores the difficulties of coming to a new country and different culture and the tension between maintaining traditional ways and assimilation.
A young man, Yankl, comes to America from Russia five years before his wife and small son. Yankl takes the name "Jake" and works towards assimilating into American life, including taking an Americanized lady friend. When his wife Gitl and their son Jossele arrive, the couple have already grown apart. Gitl wants to maintain her traditional religious Jewish identity while her husband pushes her often boorishly, towards Americanization. The couple have as a boarder a young scholar, Bernstein. Gitl gradually learns to assert her independence. When the marriage breaks down, she and Bernstein begin a relationship as Jake begins a new, and seemingly less promising life, with his Americanized lady.
The movie is poignant and the story well told with echoes of the choices still faced by American Jews and other immigrant groups. The film is in black and white and captures the clutter and liveliness of the turn of the century Lower East Side with its crowded rooming houses, lively push-cart filled streets, and sweatshops. The film uses a mix of English and subtitled Yiddish with idiomatic speech patterns. The music score of American ragtime and dance music is a delight.
In 2011, the Library of Congress deemed "Hester Street" "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant" and selected the film for inclusion in the National Film Registry. The movie richly deserves this honor as well as the visionary award it received at the Washington Jewish Film Festival. I was glad to have the opportunity to see and to remember this excellent film.
Robin Friedman
Virginia G
Jul 28, 2021
A Story that will melt your heart
A most excellent film that centers around the Americanization of an innocent Jewish bride.She overcomes heartache and turns it into a tale of triumph.
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