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The Komediant

Play trailer Poster for The Komediant Released Apr 5, 2002 1h 25m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 91% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
The glory days of the Yiddish stage are brought to life in this bittersweet saga of a legendary theatrical family, the Bursteins. Smoothly incorporating rare archival footage and interviews with Yiddish stage veterans (including Fyvush Finkel and Shifra Lerer), this tightly edited, briskly paced documentary is as richly bittersweet-filled with laughter and tears, schmaltz and gritas the Yiddish theater itself.

Critics Reviews

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Robert K. Elder Chicago Tribune Able to provide insight into a fascinating part of theater history. Rated: 2.5/4 Aug 22, 2002 Full Review Tim Cogshell Boxoffice Magazine A sharp and quick documentary that is funny and pithy, while illuminating an era of theatrical comedy that, while past, really isn't. Rated: 3/5 Jun 5, 2002 Full Review Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times The film sparkles with the the wisdom and humor of its subjects. Rated: 3.5/5 May 24, 2002 Full Review Film Threat Rated: 2/5 Dec 6, 2005 Full Review Apollo Guide Rated: 82/100 May 13, 2005 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Gives the viewer a pleasant taste for the Yiddish theater. Rated: B Jun 6, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member This could have been so much better. And there are glimpses of great things. But, it focuses too hard on the family and not enough on Yiddish theatre. And, even when it focuses on the family, it doesn't delve into family issues as much as it could. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Fascinating study of the effect that a life in the Yiddish theater has on the members of the Burstein family. A great documentary to watch to learn about the history of Yiddish musical theater in New York and Eastern Europe. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Komediant

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Cast & Crew

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The Komediant

The Komediant (2002) The Komediant (2002) The Komediant (2002) The Komediant (2002) The Burstein Family. Susan Burstein-Ruth View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis The glory days of the Yiddish stage are brought to life in this bittersweet saga of a legendary theatrical family, the Bursteins. Smoothly incorporating rare archival footage and interviews with Yiddish stage veterans (including Fyvush Finkel and Shifra Lerer), this tightly edited, briskly paced documentary is as richly bittersweet-filled with laughter and tears, schmaltz and gritas the Yiddish theater itself.
Director
Arnon Goldfinger
Producer
Amir Harel, Arnon Goldfinger, Oshra Schwartz
Screenwriter
Oshra Schwartz
Distributor
New Yorker Films
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 5, 2002, Original
Box Office (Gross USA)
$116.8K
Runtime
1h 25m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.66:1)