WELCOME TO YIDDISHLAND is playing at the Spokane Jewish Film Festival, and I had the opportunity to see an early look. Here’s my spoiler-free take:
WELCOME TO YIDDISHLAND was an upbeat, lively feature film shown at Spokane’s 2026 Jewish Film Festival. A Klezmer musical concert preceded it. The entire afternoon was a success, with audience members unable to quiet their tapping toes or bopping heads in time with the musicians. After viewing the film, everyone left with a smile and a determination to learn the expressive Yiddish language.
The movie was well documented with historical clips and interviews. It not only educated the audience about the past but also included relevant insights into the current comeback and revival of Yiddish. Yiddish is expressed with great gusto and enthusiasm, often accompanied by gestures. It was fun to learn a few phrases to use out in public. “You should grow like an onion with your head in the ground and your feet in the air.” (It sounds much better in Yiddish.)
WELCOME TO YIDDISHLAND imbued all who attended the festival that there is a current resurgence to bring back this somewhat extinct language that died in the concentration camps during WWII. It is a testament to Jewish culture in every country, because Yiddish could become a universal language just like English, French, or Spanish.