Broken Barriers
Khava
Synopsis
This 1919 silent is the first American film based on the same Sholem Aleichem stories as Fiddler on the Roof, but produced 50 years before the blockbuster musical. Unlike most adaptations of Aleichem’s work, Broken Barriers (Khavah) focuses not on Tevye the milkman, but on his daughter Khavah, who falls in love with the gentile boy Fedka and must navigate the reverberations from this with both her community and her family.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Release History & Theatrical Window
Premiere of Restoration
Festival / Special Debut
January 1, 1919
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Charles E. Davenport
- Screenplay & Story
- Nat Dorfman, Sholom Aleichem
- Original Title
- Khava
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- No Language
- Runtime
- 1h 16m
- Production Studios
- Zion Films, Inc.
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Charles E. Davenport
Nat Dorfman, Sholom Aleichem
Raymond Friedgen
Nat Dorfman
Meyer Kehlmann, Leopold Kehlmann
Department Leadership Roster
Sholom Aleichem
Writer
Meyer Kehlmann
Producer
Nat Dorfman
Editor
Leopold Kehlmann
Producer
Charles E. Davenport
Director
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Broken Barriers.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Broken Barriers
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Broken Barriers about?
This 1919 silent is the first American film based on the same Sholem Aleichem stories as Fiddler on the Roof, but produced 50 years before the blockbuster musical. Unlike most adaptations of Aleichem’s work, Broken Barriers (Khavah) focuses not on Tevye the milkman, but on his daughter Khavah, who falls in love with the gentile boy Fedka and must navigate the reverberations from this with both her community and her family.
Who directed Broken Barriers?
Broken Barriers was directed by Charles E. Davenport.
Who stars in Broken Barriers?
The principal cast of Broken Barriers includes Alice Hastings, Alexander Tenenholtz, Giacomo Masuroff, Billie Wilson, Sonia Radin.
When was Broken Barriers released and how long is it?
Broken Barriers was released in 1919 with a total runtime of 1h 16m.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Broken Barriers?
Broken Barriers holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).