THEIR FIRST FILM

Evening Star, Issue 20139, 2 April 1929, Page 6

THEIR FIRST FILM

AUDIENCE BURST INTO SONG VIENNA. March 2(1. A private cinema performance was jlivcn at Warsaw the other day to 526 Orthodox Jews from Kot/.k belonging to the sect of the Chassydim. it was the first film they had ever seen. The film was a reconstruction of the life of Mendel, the miracle Rabbi, who had lived and worked at Kotzk. No woman was allowed to attend the performance, which was kept secret, nor permitted to approach tho restaurant or box office of the cinema. 'J he audience. with their broad-brimmed hats, traditional long silk gowns. silk trousers, and long hoards, seemed to have stepped out of a long-1 orgot.tcn past At first the guests seemed to feel uncomfortable in the unusual surroundings, but alter a time they gave reserved utterance to their emotions, warning some characters in the film who seemed' to bo in peril, reproving the misdeeds of others, anl applauding those whose moral behaviour pleased them. When, however, the figure of Mendel appeared they could no longer contain themselves: they rose to their feet in a. body, applauding vehemently, and burst into an old diastolic choral song, which accompanied the production to its end. . Fortunately some critical stages passed without panic, especially one scone which showed a fight, uitu Cossacks. Many spectators took it lor reality, and showed signs ol flight. Hut they were reassured, and the finale was greeted with stamping of feet and frenzied applause. It was rather difficult to induce ibe visitors to leave the hall, but finally they betook themselves to the station, and trained home direct to Kotzk.