Hester Street

Joan Micklin Silver's feature film debut ranks among the great portraits of Jewish life in America. She meticulously reconstructs the setting and era, depicting a woman caught at the crossroads of tradition and modernity. Through the story of a Jewish immigrant in New York who adopts the habits of the New World, the film, with a touch of wit and irony, portrays the clash of two cultures. This becomes evident when his wife, Gitl, raised in Orthodox tradition, arrives from Russia with their son. Gitl struggles to adapt to the new lifestyle. Carol Kane delivers an unforgettable, Oscar-nominated performance as Gitl.