SHTTL – A Beautifully Crafted Tribute to a Lost World

December 10, 2025

By Bessy ADUT

Screening and Q&A in Los Angeles

This week, I had the opportunity to attend the screening and Q and A of SHTTL at Laemmle Theaters in Encino. I would like to give a heartfelt shout out to Hilary Hillstein for inviting me, and to my publicist Roz Wolf for including me in these extended Jewish film festival screenings and events.

SHTTL Screening and Q&A

SHTTL is a Ukrainian and French one-shot drama film written and directed by Ady Walter and starring Moshe Lobeland and Saul Rubinek. The story depicts the lives of a Jewish shtetl (a Yiddish term for small towns) on the eve of Operation Barbarossa, capturing a world on the brink of being erased. Remarkably, the film was shot in Ukraine only months before the Russian invasion. SHTTL premiered at the London Film Festival and later won the Audience Award at the Rome Film Festival. Its title intentionally omits the letter “e,” a reference to Georges Perec’s novel La Disparition, which famously excludes that letter. In French, the sound of the letter “e” resembles the word “eux,” meaning “them,” symbolizing the absence and the void left in the wake of the Shoah. The film was later shortlisted to represent Ukraine at the Academy Awards and earned Golden Dzyga nominations for cinematography and production design.

SHTTL

SHTTL is truly a beautiful movie. I was especially struck by its soundtrack. After watching the film, I found myself listening to Yiddish music throughout the weekend. The performances were excellent, and the young actors especially left a strong impression on me.

The film’s score, composed and conducted by David Federmann, is another highlight. It combines elements of jazz, classical, and klezmer with modern cinematic music, creating a rich, textured soundscape that feels both timeless and immediate. Traditional Yiddish songs and Sabbath prayers in Hebrew and Aramaic are woven seamlessly into the score, adding authenticity and emotional depth. The music was recorded across Paris, Kyiv, Brussels, and Montreal with over twenty musicians, as well as Ukrainian and French choirs. The soundtrack was officially released on December thirteenth, twenty twenty three, and it perfectly complements the haunting beauty of the film.

SHTTL

Cinematography and Production Highlights

The cinematography in SHTTL is nothing short of extraordinary. Volodymyr Ivanov, the cinematographer, crafted a series of long, carefully choreographed shots that were later edited by Jeremie Bole du Chaumont to give the impression of one continuous take. This technique immerses the audience in the daily life of the shtetl, almost as if we are walking its streets ourselves. Most of the film is presented in black and white, with color sequences reserved for flashbacks, creating a striking visual contrast that enhances the emotional impact. Remarkably, all of this was filmed under the pressure of a war unfolding nearby, giving every scene an added layer of intensity and authenticity.

SHTTL

Equally impressive is the production design. Ivan Levchenko, the production designer, and Iuliia Antykova, the art director, constructed an entire shtetl about sixty kilometers from Kyiv, including twenty five buildings and one of the largest hand painted synagogues in the world. Historical artifacts from across Ukraine were collected to fill the sets, giving the film an extraordinary level of realism. The village was originally intended to become a museum, but has since become inaccessible due to the Russian invasion, making the film a lasting testament to this vanished space.

Story and Spoilers

The story follows Mendele, an aspiring filmmaker who left his Hasidic community to join the Red Army. On June twenty first, nineteen forty one, he returns to his shtetl in Western Ukraine with his Ukrainian best friend Demyan. Their plan is to run away with Yuna, the Rebbe’s daughter, who is already promised to Folie, an ambitious Hasid seeking to lead the community. Meanwhile, the Soviet Union is infiltrating the shtetl, spreading propaganda and threatening Jewish life. Mendele’s return intensifies ideological tensions as he reconnects with old friends. Across the border, Nazi Germany is preparing to invade, an ominous threat looming over the characters.

SHTTL - Mendele

The story is deeply moving. I personally connected with Mendele’s journey, leaving his village to pursue his dreams even as his family and community try to hold him back. His bond with Yuna, and his attempts to protect her, add layers of tenderness and emotional resonance. Learning about his trauma and family history makes his journey all the more powerful.

SHTTL Poster

Critics' Response

The film has been met with widespread acclaim. Barry Levitt of Film rated it ten out of ten, calling it “a towering, single-take masterpiece of the lives we’ve lost.” Joshua Polanski of Boston Hassle praised the film for its uniqueness, and international critics have called it “a hypnotic masterpiece from an exciting new voice.”

From my perspective, SHTTL balances almost happy moments with a profoundly sad and realistic ending. While people fight over politics and religion, far worse dangers loom just beyond their awareness. The message is clear: put differences aside, coexist, cherish life and love, and support one another, because one way or another, everything will end.

SHTTL

SHTTL is not only visually immersive but emotionally rich, a truly beautiful Jewish film that honors memory, identity, and the fragile world that once existed. It is a cinematic experience that lingers with you.

I am also hoping to interview Moshe Lobel, who played Mendele, to dive deeper into his experience and perspective on the film, so stay tuned for that.

Bessy Adut | Film Critic, Şalom International Newspaper

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Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wniuyaDGCGo