In the mid 1800s in Galicia, Baruch, the son of an orthodox rabbi, yearns to become an actor. Against his father’s will, he leaves the eastern European shtetl where he grew up and joins a travelling theatre troupe. Austrian archduchess Elisabeth Theresia becomes enamoured of the young man. Secretly in love with him, she arranges for him to join the company at Vienna’s Burg Theatre, where he rises to become a celebrated star of the stage … With its complex portrayal of orthodoxy and emancipation, E. A. Dupont’s period film marks a highpoint of Jewish filmmaking in Germany. This new restoration marks the first time that a version corresponding to the lost 1920s German theatrical release will be shown, both in its original length, and with the colourisation digitally restored. New ensemble music composed by Philippe Schoeller will be played by the Orchester Jakobsplatz München with Daniel Grossmann at the podium. – World premiere of the digitally restored version in 2K DCP. Made possible by a cooperation of the Berlin International Film Festival and the Deutsche Kinemathek – Museum für Film und Fernsehen, working with ZDF and ARTE.