Hester Street

In 1896, Gitl, a devout Jewish woman, immigrates to New York's Lower East Side with her son to join her husband, Jake. She is shocked to find he has shed his old-world identity to become a modern "Yankee." As Gitl struggles to assimilate while holding onto her traditions, Jake grows impatient and pursues a more Americanized woman. Their profound culture clash culminates in a divorce, freeing them both to pursue futures more aligned with their chosen identities in America.