The Chosen (1981 film)
The Chosen | |
---|---|
Directed by | Jeremy Kagan |
Written by | Edwin Gordon |
Based on | The Chosen 1967 novel by Chaim Potok |
Produced by | Ely Landau |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Arthur J. Ornitz |
Music by | Elmer Bernstein |
Production company | The Chosen Film Company[1] |
Distributed by | |
Release dates |
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Running time | 104 minutes[1] |
Country | United States[1] |
Language | English |
Budget | $3 million[1] |
Box office | $3.2 million[1] |
The Chosen is a 1981 American
Plot
This article's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. (November 2018) |
The film is set in
Some time later, the boys begin attending Hirsch College, a Jewish university. While Reuven finds college life exciting and challenging, Danny finds it hard to adjust to, especially when his psychology professor denounces Sigmund Freud, who fascinates Danny. During this time, World War II ends and Reuven takes Danny to his first movie. After the movie, a newsreel begins and broadcasts the horrors of the concentration camps and the genocide of over six million Jews in Europe; Rebbe Saunders is horror-stricken by this too. Shortly after this, the question arises of whether a Jewish state should be re-formed in the Land of Israel, where many European Jews have emigrated. When Professor Malter goes to Chicago for a conference to debate the issue, Reuven stays with Danny's family. He meets the rest of the family, including Danny's sister Shaindel, to whom he is attracted. In time Reuven is accepted by the family. When he attends a Hasidic wedding with them, Danny gently breaks the news to Reuven that he can't pursue a relationship with Shaindel, because her future marriage has already been arranged.
After Professor Malter returns, he becomes engrossed in the creation of Israel and writes several articles and speeches about it. This controversial issue creates friction between Hasidic and Modern Orthodox Jews. While Modern Orthodox Jews believe that creating a Jewish state in Palestine is the right thing to do, Hasidic Jews believe that only the Messiah will grant them Palestine. This results in Rebbe Saunders excommunicating Reuven from the family, which adds to growing friction between Danny and Reuven. Eventually, the United Nations passes a resolution that partitions the Palestine Mandate territory, laying the ground for the Third Jewish Commonwealth in the Land of Israel, Israel. Rebbe Saunders allows Reuven to come back so that the two friends can reconcile. It is also revealed that Danny plans to transfer to Columbia University to pursue a psychology degree and Reuven plans to be a rabbi. Rebbe Saunders approves of Danny's plans and finally reveals why he was so distant from Danny: when Danny was younger, his father was impressed by how much Danny remembered when he had read something; however, blessed with this great ability, Danny became a know-it-all who felt indifferent towards other people and their troubles. As a result, Rebbe Saunders had to teach him empathy and the wisdom and pain of being alone by distancing himself from Danny and thus "teaching through silence", just as Rebbe Saunders' own father had taught him. Rebbe Saunders also tells Danny to keep his Jewish faith. This results in a tearful Danny reconciling with his father. In the end, Danny and his father enjoy a good relationship, although Danny changes his appearance, such as shaving his beard, which had been an important part of his Hasidic tradition, and adopting more modern-style clothing rather than the traditional black-colored suits that he had worn up till then. Danny and Reuven part ways as Danny prepares for his new life.
Cast
- Maximilian Schell as Professor David Malter
- Rod Steiger as Reb Saunders
- Robby Benson as Danny Saunders
- Barry Miller as Reuven Malter
- Hildy Brooks as Mrs. Saunders
- Kaethe Fine as Shaindel Saunders
- Ron Rifkin as Mr. Galanter
- Robert Burke as Levi Saunders
- Lonny Price as Davey
- Evan Handler as Sidney Goldberg
- Douglas Warhitas Sam
- Jeff Marcus as Schwartzi
- Stuart Charno as First Baseman
- John Pankow as Bully
- Richard Ziman as Bully
- Bruce MacVittie as Bully
- Val Avery as Teacher
Reception
The Chosen holds a 75% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 12 reviews.[2] Variety called it "a first-rate adaptation" that tells a universal story.[3] Janet Maslin of The New York Times wrote: "What The Chosen lacks in dramatic excitement, it tries hard to make up for in atmosphere".[4]
We couldn’t get anyone from the very orthodox Hasidic groups to portray these boys [in the film]; some Hasidim had even taken ads out in Yiddish papers urging people not to participate in this movie.[5] - Jeremy Kagan, director
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "The Chosen (1982)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- ^ "The Chosen". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- ^ "The Chosen". Variety. December 31, 1980. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- ^ Maslin, Janet (April 30, 1982). "'The Chosen'". The New York Times. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- ^ Kagan, Jeremy (2022-07-01). "A scene that was so Jewish it wound up on the cutting-room floor". The Forward. Retrieved 2022-08-21.
External links
- The Chosen at IMDb
- The Chosen at AllMovie
- The Chosen at the TCM Movie Database
- The Chosen at the American Film Institute Catalog