Yippee (2006)

Yippee (2006) follows renowned filmmaker Paul Mazursky as he ventures to a quaint Ukrainian town to immerse himself in a three-day festival attended by over 25,000 Chassidic Jews. This documentary, helmed by the acclaimed American director, actor, and screenwriter Paul Mazursky, known for works like "Next Stop Greenwich Village," "An Unmarried Woman," "Down and Out in Beverly Hills," and "Enemies: A Love Story," captures Mazursky's exhilarating journey to Uman. This small Ukrainian town hosts an annual gathering where Jewish men from around the globe converge to honor the burial site of Rabbi Nachman (1772-1810). Inspired by his optometrist's revelation about the event, Mazursky, accompanied by a small film crew, embarks on a journey filled with prayer, song, and dance. Throughout his adventure, Mazursky encounters a diverse array of Jewish men, shares meals, laughter, and profound experiences with them. He also visits the gravesite of the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of the Hassidic movement and Nachman's great-grandfather, and engages with Uman's non-Jewish residents about their perspectives on the annual influx of Hassidim. The documentary reaches its climax on Rosh Hashanah evening with a collective outpouring of spiritual fervor. Yippee (2006) is a vibrant and captivating road movie, brimming with energy and wonder, with Mazursky serving as a charming, inquisitive, and generous guide.