New Yiddish Movie "Shttl": A Cinematic Triumph Rebuilding a Lost Jewish World
Ady Walter stands out as one of the most daring Jewish directors in recent years. His film Shttl, released in 2021, is a bold achievement in many aspects. It was shot entirely in Yiddish, in black and white, and during the peak of COVID-19 restrictions in Ukraine, all while under the looming threat of a Russian invasion.
The movie is crafted to appear as one continuous take, a feat that required Walter to build a full-scale replica of a shtetl, including homes, a synagogue, and winding dirt roads.
Production Challenges and Casting
For the lead role, Walter cast Moshe Lobel, an actor new to feature films. Walter shared his experience with Lobel:
“The story of the film was a Jewish ‘Apocalypse Now.’ This was a crazy adventure in wild conditions. We even shot in swamps with mosquitoes in Ukraine. With Moshe, I never met him before he came, but we had conversations over the phone where I could trust he was right for it.”
Commitment to Authenticity
Walter was determined that the film be told only in Yiddish, emphasizing authenticity over commercial appeal. He explained:
“I don’t come from a Yiddish-speaking family. But not doing it in Yiddish wasn’t an option. I wanted to make a film where people spoke Yiddish because it was their language at the time.”
Summary
Ady Walter’s "Shttl" is a daring, authentic Yiddish film that revives a vanished Jewish community through innovative filmmaking despite formidable challenges.