USSR, 1928, Grigori Gricher-Cherikover director, 92 minutes

Skillfully interweaving three classic Sholom Aleichem short stories, Laughter Through Tears personalizes the struggle to survive in the shtetls of pre-revolutionary Russia.
Featuring powerful, nuanced performances by the finest actors of the Moscow Art Theatre, assured direction, and beautiful cinematography of a lost world, Laughter Through Tears faithfully captures Aleichem’s unique combination of humour and pathos, hardship and joy, revealing the mystical in the mundane. Restored by the National Center for Jewish Film, and screened with live musical accompaniment by Jordan Klapman.