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Topic: The Chosen

Gerard S. Cohen
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 975
From: Forest Hills, NY, USA
Registered: Sep 2001

posted 04-24-2004 11:14 PM

This 1981 film based on Chiam Potok's novel was broadcast on PBS CH 13 tonight and will be repeated on April 25th at 12 Noon.
It was slightly letterboxed to approximate the 16x9 format of high definition TV, of which CH 13 was an early adopter.

Filmed entirely on location in New York City, the story of the friendship of two Jewish boys and their fathers reveals the conflict between a modern, Americanized, scientific, Zionist
upbringing and one steeped in Hassidic, orthodox, messianic teachings. The boys' lives are influenced by world events from roughly D-Day 1n 1944 to the declaration of the Israeli state in 1948. Conflicts between the boys and their fathers, and between the boys themselves, provide the plot interest.

Rod Steiger plays the aged, heavily bearded Rabbi, while Maximillian Schell explores the role of the more scientific, worldly political activist.

The Hassidic lifestyle is revealed in the joyous celebrations, replete with singing and dancing, and the all male meetings of the learned sect leader and his worshipful followers. (This reflects such actual sects as that of the Lubovitchers and the late Rabbi Schnearson, or the Satmar sect, both in Brooklyn.) The camera dwells on crowded group shots with a warm, brownish lighting, as from candles, and the music is rich in Klezmer excitement.

I enjoyed the film's return to the 1940's era of swing, jitterbugging, playground softball and V-E Day (my highchool reunion is due this June.) And the film has topical interest in
reliving the reasons for the founding of the state of Israel,
and the struggle to establish a Jewish homeland, as well as exploring the joys and limitations of fundamentalism.

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Darryl Spicer
Film God

Posts: 3250
From: Lexington, KY, USA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 04-25-2004 02:09 AM

Yes I really liked this movie. I remember seeing it a lot back when I first got cable tv. They used to play it constanly on HBO. One of Robby Bensons's better films. I still trip that he did the voice of the Beast in Beauty and the Beast.

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Gary Crawford
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 200
From: Neptune NJ USA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 05-19-2004 01:05 PM

This is a fantastic movie. Being a history nut and just plain curious about everything else I enjoyed the tasteful portrayal behind the scenes in what many see as a "secret society".

I'll admit that the "silent treatment" bothered me. How it would affect me if my father had done that to me, but the reasons were explained and it made sense.

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