Hester Street

Monday, April 28

In the early 1970s, Joan Micklin Silver, a young producer of educational films, aimed to become a film director. Inspired by Abraham Cahan’s novella Yekl: A Tale of the New York Ghetto, she wanted to depict the emotional immigrant experience in 1890s New York. Despite resistance from industry leaders, who viewed women directors as a liability, her husband Raphael Silver raised funds for the film. The result, Hester Street (1975), portrays a Russian Jewish immigrant couple navigating personal and social challenges in America. Directed on a tight budget in just 34 days, the film became a surprise hit and earned an Oscar nomination for Carol Kane. It remains relevant today, exploring themes of identity, isolation, and assimilation.

Monday Afternoon at the Movies
At TBT 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Tickets are on sale at the door for $5.