WELCOME TO YIDDISHLAND, Australia, 2024. Directed by Ros Horin. 95 minutes. Rated PG (Mild themes and infrequent coarse language.)
The conflicts of the past couple of years, especially with the Middle East, highlight a need for social cohesion. This has become significant in Australia, with protests, signs and flags, the burning of the synagogue. . . And the official government appointment of mediators for anti-Semitism and he and anti-Islam.
One of the ways for this social cohesion is appreciation of the different cultures, their traditions, sharing in music, sharing enjoy. And, this is what this film tries to do. A non-Jewish audience will need to check on what they know of the Yiddish language, which was used in Europe for 1000 years, during times of prosperity but, especially, in times of oppression and persecution. (Maybe not an exact parallel but those of Irish extraction might remember the role of Gaelic in oppressed Ireland for so many centuries.)
Surprisingly, this is an Australian production. There are interviews with local actors, singers, composers and theatre directors, but moving to countries all over the world. The emphasis is on the richness of the tradition, its significance, the popularity of the language (and its influence on English, and The Age crossword testing its readers for an answer to a clue which could be schmuck or schlemiel), the development of music, the quality of song, rehearsals for a performance of Yentl in the Yiddish. These artists see themselves as Yiddishists.
For music lovers appreciative of a variety of cultures, this documentary will be welcome. Those interested in the traditions of Jewish and Yiddish culture will find it informative. But, as has been indicated, in times like these, this kind of appreciation contributes to greater social cohesion.
Label distribution
Released 5 December