Documentary on 'Fiddler' set for worldwide release
"Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles" traces the musical from its Yiddish roots to global fame.
By AMY SPIROThe cast of "Fiddler on the Roof" performs during the American Theatre Wing's 70th annual Tony Awards in New York, U.S., June 12, 2016(photo credit: LUCAS JACKSON / REUTERS)
A documentary film about the famed Broadway show and movie Fiddler on the Roof is set to hit theaters this summer.On Wednesday, Samuel Goldwyn Films and Roadside Attractions announced that it had picked up the film, titled Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles for worldwide distribution.The documentary, directed by Max Lewkowicz, began production in 2016. It includes interviews with many of those involved in the original Broadway production of the show, including lyricist Sheldon Harnick, producer Hal Prince and actors Austin Pendleton (Motel), Joanna Merlin (Tzeitel), Haim Topol - who played Tevye in the film, violinist Itzhak Perlman and Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda."The goal of our documentary is to understand why the story of Tevye the milkman is reborn again and again as a beloved entertainment and cultural touchstone the world over," said Lewkowicz on the film's website. "It's not a simple musical, it's not a fluff piece. It's - as somebody says in the film - it's very complex, and what makes it amazing is that it deals with so many different themes that we as human beings can connect to."The film traces the beloved musical from its roots in Sholem Aleichem's Yiddish writings to its Broadway debut in 1964, its film adaptation in 1971 and its revivals and stagings around the globe.“Fiddler is a show with themes that remain hugely relevant today," Peter Goldwyn of Samuel Goldwyn Films said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. "This documentary offers profound insight into the historical and cultural movements that inspired Fiddler, as well as its enduring appeal around the world.”
