Joseph Green and Konrad Tom's 1938 musical comedy, Mamale, was the last Jewish film made in Poland before the Nazi onslaught. Starring Molly Picon as Khavtshi, it tells the story of a young girl who promised her dying mother that she would take care of her large and unappreciative family. Overburdened with the responsibilities of cooking, cleaning, laundering, child care, and matchmaking, Khavtshi surprises herself and her siblings by falling in love with the violinist across the couryard. In this clip, Khavtshi watches her ancestors come alive as she flips through an old album. Imagining herself as the dancer featured in the photograph, Khavtshi's reveries come to life on screen.
Courtesy of the National Center for Jewish Film.