THE LIGHT AHEAD (1939)
The Light Ahead (1939) - a Yiddish classic by Edgar G. Ulmer - loosely based on the story by Mendele Mokher Sforim, Fishke Der Krumer/ Fishke the Lame.
The Light Ahead is a story of love and incredible poverty in a small shtetl and the chances that young orphans have to fulfil their dream of being together, having a home and family. Their chances are slim, and suddenly a strange superstition comes to the rescue. Yet, is there life in a corrupted and superstition-driven small village, or is migration the only chance of a better future?
The Light Ahead is a story of love and incredible poverty in a small shtetl and the chances that young orphans have to fulfil their dream of being together, having a home and family. Their chances are slim, and suddenly a strange superstition comes to the rescue. Yet, is there life in a corrupted and superstition-driven small village, or is migration the only chance of a better future?
1. Discussion about The Light Ahead after recent restoration: J. Hoberman and Dan Sullivan |
2. The excerpt from the film: |
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3. Layka online discussion about the film: Series on Yiddishkayt // Boris Drayluk, Rob Adler Peckerar!
4. Who was Edgar G. Elmer?
Further information - background to the film:
If you want to know more about
Or read here:
https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/community/articles/plague-weddings
In the movie, there is mention of Tkhines or teḥinot. Also please see the attached prayer book for women (the Seyder Tkhines) by Fanny Neuda (1819 - 1894). She created a prayer book for women. The interesting point is that she married Abraham Neuda who was a rabbi in Lostice (just a few km from Olomouc, where Ulmer was born). It is very much possible that Ulmer´s mother had her prayer book. Read more about her: http://www.respectandtolerance.com/en/osudy-lotice/87-fanny-neuda.html and
https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/neuda-fanny, also:
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/fanny-neuda-a-pioneer-of-womens-prayer-650712
Here you can see how the prayers looked like:
https://opensiddur.org/profile/fanny-neuda/
- Interview with E.G. Ulmer's daughter Arianne Ulmer Cipes and researcher Noah Isenberg
If you want to know more about
- cholera wedding, please see this video:
Or read here:
https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/community/articles/plague-weddings
In the movie, there is mention of Tkhines or teḥinot. Also please see the attached prayer book for women (the Seyder Tkhines) by Fanny Neuda (1819 - 1894). She created a prayer book for women. The interesting point is that she married Abraham Neuda who was a rabbi in Lostice (just a few km from Olomouc, where Ulmer was born). It is very much possible that Ulmer´s mother had her prayer book. Read more about her: http://www.respectandtolerance.com/en/osudy-lotice/87-fanny-neuda.html and
https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/neuda-fanny, also:
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/fanny-neuda-a-pioneer-of-womens-prayer-650712
Here you can see how the prayers looked like:
https://opensiddur.org/profile/fanny-neuda/