New Yiddish movie 'Shttl' is a cinematic triumph that rebuilds a lost Jewish world: review

New Yiddish Movie "Shttl" Rebuilds a Lost Jewish World

Ady Walter stands out as one of the boldest Jewish directors in recent years with his film Shttl, an impressive and daring achievement. Filmed in 2021 in Ukraine under the threat of a Russian invasion and during strict COVID-19 restrictions, the movie was entirely shot in black and white, fully in Yiddish, and designed to appear as a single continuous take.

To accomplish this ambitious vision, Walter constructed a full-scale replica of a shtetl, including homes, a synagogue, and winding dirt roads. The lead role was given to Moshe Lobel, a newcomer who had never before starred in a feature film.

"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." – Ady Walter

From the start, Walter insisted that the film be told exclusively in Yiddish. Although this limited its commercial appeal, he prioritized authenticity and refused to compromise.

"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." – Ady Walter

Author’s summary: Ady Walter’s Shttl is a courageous cinematic feat, authentically resurrecting a vanished Jewish world through a bold single-take Yiddish film crafted under extraordinary conditions.

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Unpacked Unpacked — 2025-11-01

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