Das alte Gesetz (1923)

Baruch Mayr, the son of an orthodox rabbi from a poor shtetl in Galizia, decides to break from family tradition and pursue a career as an actor. This decision leads to his banishment from his family. Baruch joins a small burlesque troupe and is discovered by an Austrian archduchess, who introduces him to the director of Vienna's renowned Burgtheater. He secures a contract and becomes increasingly assimilated, but his relationship with the archduchess is not accepted by the Austrian court, forcing them to end it. When an old family friend who travels between Jewish communities visits Baruch, he becomes homesick and returns home to visit his family and reunite with his childhood sweetheart. However, his father refuses to let him into the house, so he returns to Vienna with his bride. The old friend continues to try to convince the father of his mistakes.