Part of the Jewish Film Festival!The digital restoration of this lost gem from the silent era features with an original live score by the extraordinary violinist Alicia Svigals (who accompanied The Yellow Ticket at the Michigan Theater in 2018) and acclaimed pianist Donald Sosin! In a shtetl in Galicia, the son of a rabbi gets a bug for acting and is swept into a glamorous lifestyle, much to the chagrin of his very traditional father. The son becomes the object of a Viennese arch duchess’s affections, and, with a sweetheart waiting back home, he must decide between two divergent paths. The Ancient Law offers a nuanced depiction of both the shtetl and the Jewish ideals of the era, steering clear of caricature at every turn. The cinematography is spectacular, emulating the light and shadow of a Rembrandt etching.
With a live accompaniment by Alicia Svigals and Donald Sosin