Based on a Jewish folk tale adapted by playwright John Lazarus, this animated short tells the story of Shmendrik, a simpleton living in a small Polish village. Weary of daily life in his native Chelm, Shmendrik sets out on a quest for knowledge that brings him to a new Chelm, a place eerily reminiscent of his old Chelm. An amusing take on our tendency to romanticize what we don't have.

Best Animated Short - Genie Awards

Directed by Eugene Fedorenko and Rose Newlove
Canada, 1999
Animated, Shorts, Comedy, Jewish Culture
English
12 Minutes