A Escolha

I got this movie out from Dambusters in Golders Green not knowing how good it was going to be. This film is a joy to watch from start to finish. The acting is superb and the script is great as well.

The film provides an excellent drama between two Jewish guys one secular the other the son of a prominent frum Rabbi. Over the span of the film, you see their friendship develop and there are some real classic images of hassidic life including a Chassidic wedding. All the main actors play their part with real affection and dedication. Rod Steiger is in particular outstanding. This is all the more impressive given that guy was a non-jew.

This film should have won Oscars. Ach, what do they know?

The first word to define it was "magnificent". For the delicate freshness. For the precise definition of tradition, fatherhood, Hasidic life, friendship. For the inspired portrait of the birth of a world. For lovely performances. For the grace of atmosphere. And for its status of film about fundamental things defining each of us. A great film, a pure gem.

As World War II winds down, young and assimilated Jewish-American Barry Miller (as Reuven Malter) and his New York City street team agree to play a group of "very orthodox" Hasidic young men. The traditionally dressed Jews turn out to be quite good at the game, especially steely-eyed power hitter Robbie Benson (as Daniel "Danny" Saunders); he's also a genius. When Mr. Miller tries to strike Mr. Benson out at bat, Benson retaliates with a line-drive to Miller's face. Hospitalized, Miller is told he could possibly lose sight in his left eye, from the injury. Filled with guilt and curiosity, Benson decides to visit Miller.

Benson and Miller are intrigued by their cultural differences, and slowly become close friends.

However, politics rears an ugly head when the post-war partitioning of Palestine threatens Benson and Miller's friendship. A Zionist like his Professor father Maximilian Schell (as David Malter), Miller favoring the creation of Israel. A fundamentalist like his Rabbi father Rod Steiger (as Isaac Saunders), Benson believes the Jewish state should be created according to scripture. With great source material from writer Chaim Potok, and fine poetic performances, "The Chosen" overcomes some of its mid-section sluggishness. The opening parts are captivating, and Benson's closing scene with Mr. Steiger is a tearful peak.

******* The Chosen (8/81) Jeremy Kagan ~ Robbie Benson, Barry Miller, Rod Steiger, Maximilian Schell

This is by far my favorite Jewish movie ever. Although I'm not Jewish in this lifetime, I get in moods for Jewish movies...and this is the one I always want to watch first. It is a soft-spoken movie that makes some big observations about life and religion. The most intriguing idea is about what one should do with a brilliant child who shows little sensitivity about the feelings of others. I think this is Robby Benson's best work, and everyone else in the movie was excellent, too.

The Chosen is an excellent film. It opens up in an inner-city playground softball field, where Reuvan (Barry Miller) gets hit in the eye by a baseball hit by Danny (Robby Benson), an Hasidic Jew. The two soon become friends and teach each other about their different worlds. It's a very realistic film, not at all overdone as some films of this genre are. There are no fancy camera techniques, and the movie centers on character development rather than spiffy editing or cinematic style. The screenplay is superb and the acting is very believable. Rod Steiger as Danny's ultra-Orthedox rabbi father and Maximilian Schell as Reuven's liberal father along with Miller and Benson are excellent. Elmer Bernstein's quiet, Jewish sounding score is also a plus. This is an enjoyable film that has a lot to say about friendship, growing up, and religous faith.