The Chosen
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Movie Reviews of The Chosen
Movie Review: EXCELLENT DVD TRANSFER! "The Chosen" and their choices
Summary: 5 Stars
First off,the DVD transfer of the 1981 Jeremy Kagan directed THE CHOSEN is outstanding, both in WIDESCREEN and FULL SCREEN.The picture and sound are crystal clear as if filmed yesterday.Great buy for $4+.
Now...the film itself; I saw this wonderful film 3 times in the arthouses in 1981.Jeremy Kagan, who directed this wonderful E.Gordon screenplay adaptation of Chaim Potok's novel, was to go on to win Emmy's for "Chicago Hope";but in 1981 he took on the task of assembling Oscar winners Rod Steiger and Maximilian Schell, along with then young talents Robby Benson and Barry Miller,both later Golden Globe nominees,to tell the complex story of two Jewish teenagers and their vastly different fathers from vastly different Jewish sects in 1940's Brooklyn.
The story surrounds Danny (Benson), who is a "sauvant of sorts" from the highly orthodox Hasidic Jews and Reuven (Miller), a product of liberal "Zionist" Judaism.Danny's father, (Rod Steiger, who won International Awards for this role!), is a "righteous" leader who has immigrated to the U.S from Russia with all of his followers.From Danny and his Rabbi-Father, Reuven enters Danny's "strange" world of religious ultra orthodoxy and culture.Through Reuven and his father,(Maximilian Schell) who is a "liberal" Jew who writes about the necessity of the Palestinian Homeland, Danny enters their world of modern thought and all-embracing Americanism. The two boys form an unusual respect and friendship amidst their incredibly different cultures,and yet both are able to transcend both and forge a bond that will be tested amidst paternal disruptions and the end of WW2.
THE CHOSEN is an intimate film,evenly paced and features truly exquisite acting from the four principle actors.Each character is well developed and reaches an epiphany,which makes for pleasant viewing where everyone learns something.The revelations are numerous and cut deeply into the minds and souls of each character.
NOTE: The author of the book,Chaim Potok, worked very closely with the production of this film and cameos as one of the Talmudic Teachers!
The only other film that deals with Hasidism that I would suggest is A Life Apart - Hasidism in America and to a certain degree Ushpizin.
To learn more about the conflict and the founding of the Israeli State and the conflict with the Arabs, I highly recommend the PBS documentary Arab and Jew: Wounded Spirits in a Promised Land, which adds great dimension to the Zionist vs. Hasidic view of the Jewish State as mentioned in THE CHOSEN.
Movie Review: A touching, must-see classic... from a Christian fan of this movie
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw this movie when I was 18, six years before deciding to follow Jesus - and this movie touched my heart before I ever knew much about the Jewish people and anything about Jewish culture. I think it's important for Christians to watch this classic movie as insight into the people to whom we owe such a debt in so many ways. Don't think that this is just a "Jewish movie" and that it has no significance for you. It's so incredibly human and soulful and you'll learn a lot of practical information in the process. You'll laugh and cry and be touched deeply by the story.
One person left the comment that the DVD back cover had somewhat of a misguided quote about Reuven "questioning his religion". I'd like to add an alternate perspective to his comment: I think maybe whoever wrote that was trying to constrast Reuven's upbringing with Danny's - being raised Hasidic, Danny wasn't encouraged to question much of anything if you recall. He was expected to accept his faith and future from his father without hesitation. It was Reuven who was brought up to think more critically about the world around him, and it was Reuven's influence as a friend that encouraged Danny to spread his wings. Both Danny and Reuven impacted eachother and each took with them the best from one another's worlds. What a great story, not to be missed!
I would encourage all viewers to pick up a copy of the book and read it - whether before or after the movie. Chaim Potok was such a wonderful writer that you will feel a kinship with these boys by the end of the book. You will then have no choice but to purchase the sequel, "The Promise". Unfortunately they never made The Promise into a movie. You will be sad to say goodbye to Reuven and Danny at the end of the book, and at the end of this movie, you will want to somehow follow Danny as he turns the corner after that long walk down the Brooklyn tree-lined street.
This story was actually instrumental in my desire to return to school and complete my degree. I was inspired to action, learning how the Jewish people value education and how they meet the challenge. They are an inspiration to me.
I tried to contact Chaim Potok to tell him how blessed I was reading his books (he has many others) and found I was two years too late. He passed away and is buried in Philadelphia. His wife and daughters still live in the area.
BUY THE DVD ALREADY, WOULD YOU?!
(PS) For Chaim Potok fans who haven't yet read the Asher Lev stories.... HIGHLY recommended. :-)
Movie Review: A Touching Film About The Hassidic Lifestyle
Summary: 5 Stars
This 1982 film, based on the novel by Chaim Potok, himself a Jew,is a moving and detailed adaptation. Stars Robbie Benson and Rod Steiger. I saw this film on PBS channel 28. The Jewish soul of
this film shines through beautifully and sadly, effectively using Hassidic clothing and glimpses of the lifestyle, which is
oddly at variance with the rapidly modernizing New York City of the World War II Era. Robby Benson delivers a fine performance
as the American young man who befriends a Hassidic Jew and assimilates the Jewish lifestyle. Their friendship is rocky at best. His Jewish friend has been raised by a strict father who
upholds the traditonal and orthodox way of life (he's even got him engaged to another Jewish girl)ad shuns modern thinking. He is against the Zionist movement which sought to make Israel its own free state, but the Father in this film believes only God and his Messiah can deliver them. Never has a movie been more embracing of the Jewish faith and old traditions than this movie.
Hebrew music is authentically used. The overwhelming sadness and horror hits you when they feature clips from the slaughter of thousands of Jews in the Holocaust during Hitler's Nazi regime in Europe.
With a sad, reflective mood and a long run of time, this film does seem to be straight from the equally long novel. But it's a great film and I recommend anyone who is a fan of Potok or Robby Benson the actor. The relationship between the boys and the difference between their fathers- one father is old-fashioned and fiery while the other is peaceful, but modern. It's a look at the difference between the two distinct worlds. In the end, the Jewish boy who always wanted to practice psychiatry, is allowed by a father who finally consents. It's a moving and poignant film. The acting and the script, lifted from the book, is quite good. Why did'nt this get any recognition in the Oscars of 1982 ? Or did it ? This film is before my time but it's superb and I feel it's Oscar worthy material. You will see what I mean.
Movie Review: The Chosen is chosen for the best movie i've ever seen
Summary: 5 Stars
I discovered this movie on tv and as time progressed, i couldn't change the channel, it captivated my mind and senses. This movie was sent the mid-40's during the second world war in brookyln, new york. It starts out with baseball scence where danny, a hasdic jew and a modern jew called reuven are segerated into their little team. what started this story off is when danny hits a ball into reuven eye and therefore blinds him temporarily. Their friendship blossoms in which they share their thoughts with one another. Danny is conflicted with his predestined mission of being a rabbi, and studying psychology. This movie makes you think, can you be something other than what you are destined to be? This also made me think : why is it called the choosen? There are many answers to this questions, some of my answers are they are chosen to choose their own paths in life.Their fathers choose their destiny, but they choose what they wanted to do. There is also irony in the end of the story how danny was meant to be a rabbi but reuven is the one that pursues this field, and how reuven's father is a professor but danny is the one who wants to pursue psychology. Although i haven't read the book and compared it yet, i will! This is to say by far one of the best movies i've ever seen!!! Must watch The only weakness in this movie is how i think reuven acting is too good to be too, there was a scene where danny's father forbid him to talk to reuven and this occurred for several months. Later danny said to danny "my dad lifted the ban, i can talk to you now" Reuven's reply was oh ok. My reply is that, if a person doesn't talk to you for several month one would be a mad or a bit angry, wouldn't you? This a minor, not minor,smaller than minor setback from the story. The acting is superb in danny and Reb Saunders and reuven's father. Reuven's acting is pretty good other than my comment, only if he is really suposed to be portrayed to have this kind of characteristic. I wil have more to compare to, after i read the book..
Movie Review: Fascinating film and character contrast!
Summary: 5 Stars
It's been a long time since I've viewed this Robby Benson film. I loved it when I first saw it. I grew up in a catholic home where going to Church every Sunday was mandatory. I attended catholic grade school, high school and college. As I approached 18, I started to meet others of different faiths which I found very enriching given the particular perspective I was given growing up under the teachings of the nuns, priests and brothers who taught me.
What I loved about this film was the contrast presented of mind sets between Robby Benson's character, Danny Saunders, and Barry Miller's character, Reuven. I was about the same age as these two fellows in the film when it was made. Both actors are not only good looking men to watch, but their chemistry of interaction is magnetic when you watch this script played out based on Chaim Potok's best selling novel. Since this takes place in the 1940's with WWII in the works, the tension between the Jewish community and the world is felt and seen only all too clearly, but so is their wonderful culture and their way of thinking which makes this film a post WWII peace ruling tool in my view. The then tensions in the world is only all too well played out between Danny and Reuven which reduces the greater political trials of the world down to terms all of us can understand.
For these reasons I wanted this film in my library. The character development is excellent. Some scenes could have been more developed by today's standards, but it is nevertheless an excellent story with a great message of love behind it.
The DVD case came in great condition along with the slip covers. Would have been nice to have the film cover burned onto the disk so I could tell which side goes face down, which I fixed my sticking a label on the side that faces up with the title of the film on the label: No big deal. Good value for the money. No real complaints.