A Journey Through Music, Memory, and Discovery

Read Time:4 Minute, 43 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
The Klezmer Project (DVD)
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Genre: Documentary
Year Released: 2025
Runtime: 1h 57m
Director(s): Leandro Koch, Paloma Schachmann
Where To Watch: available now, order your copy here: www.kinolorber.com or www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: THE KLEZMER PROJECT doesn’t just tell a story—it plays with the idea of storytelling itself. Blurring the lines between reality and fiction, this film offers more than a documentary on Klezmer music (an instrumental musical tradition of the Ashkenazi Jews of Central and Eastern Europe;) it explores identity, history, and how narratives evolve. What begins as an impulsive deception to impress someone quickly transforms into an odyssey of cultural rediscovery, proving that searching for one thing sometimes leads to something entirely unexpected.

At the film's center is a wedding videographer in Buenos Aires who spends his days capturing Jewish ceremonies but feels no real connection to the traditions he films. It’s just another job—until he meets a clarinetist whose passion for Klezmer sparks something in him. Eager to impress her, he claims to be working on a documentary about the music. What starts as a harmless lie soon becomes something much bigger, pulling him into a journey through Eastern Europe, where he begins to unravel a musical past he never thought he’d care about.

This film plays with expectations, constantly shifting. The protagonist’s deception mirrors how the film manipulates storytelling, crafting a layered narrative that blurs historical research with personal discovery. Woven into the main exploration is a Yiddish folktale about a gravedigger who tricks his way into love—an old myth that reflects the protagonist’s initial lie. This added dimension gives the film a unique view, reinforcing its truth, memory, and reinvention themes.

Rather than presenting a straightforward history lesson, THE KLEZMER PROJECT embeds its research in the unfolding adventure. As the characters travel through Ukraine, Romania, and Moldova, they search for musicians who have kept fragments of Klezmer alive, knowingly or not. Some can still recall the past melodies, while others have unintentionally absorbed Klezmer influences into their regional folk traditions. These encounters breathe life into the film, offering an authentic look at how culture lingers, even when it seems to have vanished.

Beyond its focus on music, the film explores why Klezmer nearly disappeared from Eastern Europe. While the Holocaust devastated Jewish communities and their artistic traditions, other cultural shifts contributed to Klezmer’s decline. The film explores how the transition from Yiddish to Hebrew marginalized aspects of Jewish identity, leading to the fading of traditions once central to daily life.

Despite tackling heavy themes, the film never loses its sense of humor. The protagonist’s initial deception is handled with intelligence, making him an engaging, if unreliable, narrator. The film maintains a playful tone, keeping audiences entertained even as it delves into deeper territory. This balance prevents it from becoming overly academic or dry, making it accessible to viewers with no prior interest in Klezmer or Jewish history.

The decision to mix documentary and fiction is the film’s greatest strength and its biggest challenge. While this hybrid approach creates an inventive and layered film, it sometimes disrupts the pacing. The shifts between the main story, the folktale, and real-life documentary segments can feel abrupt, making it difficult to immerse oneself fully in any aspect. Though this fragmented style fits the film’s themes, a more seamless integration of its elements could have strengthened the overall impact.

One of the film’s standout qualities is its portrayal of music as living and adaptable. The scattered performances highlight musicians from different backgrounds, showcasing how Klezmer’s influence persists in ways that are not always obvious. These musical moments ground the film, reminding us that culture doesn’t just disappear—it transforms, evolves, and finds new life in unexpected places.

Ultimately, the film is about more than just a fading musical tradition; it’s about how history shapes identity and what it means to reclaim something nearly lost. It challenges audiences to consider whether cultural heritage can be restored or must be reinterpreted to survive. While the film’s unconventional structure may not always flow perfectly, its sincerity and ambition make it a fascinating and rewarding experience.

With its blend of humor, insight, and musical appreciation, the film delivers a one-of-a-kind experience. It reminds us that the past is never truly lost—it just takes the right journey to find it again.

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[photo courtesy of KINO LORBER, GREENWICH ENTERTAINMENT]

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