EIn 1922, Frank N. Seltzer and George K. Rowlands directed a film called “Breaking Home Ties,” a silent film that tells the story of Jewish immigrants on the Lower East Side of New York, through the eyes of the Bergmann family.
Throughout the film, David, the eldest son of the Russian family, uses his education to become a lawyer, while his parents face poverty as street vendors.
The truth is that “Breaking Home Ties” disappeared shortly after its premiere at the Astor Hotel near Times Square. A copy was found in a Berlin archive in 1984, and the National Jewish Film Center has since spearheaded its restoration.
More than 100 years later, the film is back on the big screen as part of the New York Jewish Film Festival, which kicks off this Thursday.
Lisa Rivo, co-director of the National Jewish Film Center, said the film “tackles the realities of immigrant life without evasion. It’s moving to see how this story connects with issues that are still relevant today.” Rivo added that “watching a silent film with music is like traveling back in time, uniting artists from over a century ago.”
The film stands out for its respectful and in-depth portrayal of Jewish characters, and throughout its plot it addresses practices such as lighting Shabbat candles and Yom Kippur prayers in a natural way.