The Chosen

source: The Chosen

The Brooklyn I grew up in is a generation ahead of the kids you see typified by Barry Miller and Robby Benson. Still enough of it is quite familiar. The Chosen is a story of an unusual friendship between two very different types of Jewish kids in Brooklyn during the 1940s. That they got to be friends at all is a miracle of sorts because Hassidics are still a most clannish and insular people and rarely accept outsiders. Although it's pick up baseball game that begins The Chosen, no mention of the Dodgers in a film about 40s Brooklyn. Barry Miller is the son of Professor Maximilian Schell who is both a scholar and a committed Zionist. Robby Benson is not only Hassidic but the son of the grand Rebbe who is head of that particular sect of Hassidim. For those that don't know the Hassidim are those extreme Orthodox Jews who still dress as they would in the 16th century. They are concentrated in a few sections of Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Boro Park, and Crown Heights still to this day. Not all Hassidim have that view of the state of Israel that we see displayed by Rod Steiger. He hews to a strict interpretation of the Old Testament that the Messiah, a descendant of David comes back to establish the Kingdom of Israel. It's not to be established by socialists like David Ben-Gurion and Chaim Weizman. No secular state in any event, that is as they would say it, a Shanda. These two different kinds of Jewish kids were a tick under the draft age to serve in World War II. They saw in movie newsreels the liberation of the concentration camps. You have to appreciate how that indelibly impressed the mind of Jews of most kind except for the few like Steiger. Benson really does not want to be a rabbi, but it's expected he follow tradition. As for Miller he's not about to abandon his more liberal views, he likes the warm family life that Steiger and his clan have and is more spiritual than his father. Schell and Miller, Steiger and Benson, this quartet delivers a fine adaption of Chaim Potok's acclaimed novel. This film really hit home with me and it is a fine portrayal of Jewish life in Brooklyn in a historic time.

The film is set in Brooklyn, New York, from 1944 until 1948 and involves the intersection of two very different Jewish cultures. Reuven Malter is the son of a modern Orthodox Jewish scholar, David Malter. Danny Saunders is the son of a Hasidic Jewish Rebbe who led his people from Russia. During World War II, the Jewish communities play sports together to show their patriotism. Reuven and Danny meet in such a game and take an immediate dislike to one another. Danny seriously injures Reuven with a batted ball, and he seeks Reuven's forgiveness and offers to read for him so that he can continue his studies. Through this incident, they become friends, and Reuven is accepted by Rebbe Saunders as a friend for Danny. Reuven learns that Danny is a brilliant student with total recall of all he reads. He also learns that Rebbe Saunders is raising Danny in "silence" and has not spoken directly to him when not in a group since he was a child. Danny is to follow his father as Rebbe. Reuven also learns that Danny has become restless about only studying Talmud and spends hours in the library reading a range of topics, with a particular interest in Freudian psychology. It becomes apparent that Reuven's father, David, has been giving reading suggestions to Danny even though Rebbe Saunders disapproves of David Malter's more modern views. Reuven and Danny go on to Hirsch College (based, I believe, on Yeshiva College). Meanwhile, after the end of the war, David Malter becomes a highly visible Zionist advocating the partition of Palestine and creating the State of Israel. This is extremely offensive to Rebbe Saunders, who believes Israel will only be established by the Messiah, and he "excommunicates" Reuven from his relationship with Danny. After the United Nations approves the formation of Israel, Rebbe Saunders lifts the ban and ultimately has a conversation with Danny with Reuven present that explains his use of "silence." The movie received mixed reviews, but when I first saw it in 1981 I liked it so much my wife and I rented a theater so that our church could see it. One attraction for us was the parallel in our experience of trying to understand the religious thought of a Mennonite group very different from us, i.e., the Old Order Mennonites, and we "assimilated" Mennonites. The film (and book) dealt with this kind of conversation in a respectful manner that took faith questions seriously.

Director Jeremy Kagan's film-version of "The Chosen" theatrically first released nearly 40 Years ago in the early 1980's presents an emotionally-resonant and worthy cinematic interpretation of Chaim Potok's renowned and deeply-insightful novel from 1967. Kagan's film was obviously made on a very 'modest' budget..... and is probably not as well-remembered today as it most definitely deserves to be. "The Chosen" is fascinating in both film and Book form, contrasting the Lives (i.e. hopes, dreams, aspirations) of two Jewish teenagers coming-of-age during, and slightly after WWII, both extremely bright but originating from contrasting traditions and diverse cultural-backgrounds. 'Reuven' oriented toward modernist-assimilation as the son of Professor David Malter a respected writer & intellectual very supportive of the burgeoning State of Israel, leading up to 1948 Independence..... but with a secular-leaning and 'forward-looking' perspective (during the immediate post-WWII era.) Contrasting against the Life and outlook of Hasidic 'Danny' who is blessed with steel-trap eidetic-memory and astronomical IQ but also more than a bit intellectually stifled by the fact that he is expected to follow in the hallowed but obligatory footsteps of his father Rebbe Saunders (a genuinely powerful spiritual-leader that his community totally depends upon for guidance.) Director Jeremy Kagan does a superlative job guiding his stellar-cast: Barry Miller is down-to-Earth and totally 'relatable' as 'Reuven Malter' bright, inquisitive, funny..... simply aspiring to be a successful participant in the 'American-Dream' leaving those 'old-World' hang-ups behind (until faced with more serious ramifications of WWII/ Holocaust later in the film). Robby Benson seems surprisingly authentic as 'Danny Saunders' other-worldly and infinitely inquisitive (secretly reading bundles of books by Freud and other cutting-edge influential thinkers of that time, initially without the inkling of his father Rebbe Saunders)..... building a deep-trusting friendship with 'Reuven' while simultaneously being exposed to modernity until Rebbe Saunders becomes aware and intervenes. Rod Steiger is authoritative and intimidatingly believable as the intense, spiritually-focused (taciturn yet deeply-compassionate) 'Rebbe Saunders' who acknowledges son 'Danny's intellectual-gifts and aspirations but also expects him to always be a genuinely 'good' person of unwavering integrity and honor (especially in the eyes of G_d)..... no matter what future pathway he chooses.... Maximillian Schell is also convincing as Professor David Malter wholeheartedly believing that modernity and 'progress' hold the keys to future prosperity (and ultimate long-term survival) particularly in the immediate aftermath of the Holocaust but at the same time Professor Malter does poignantly express to son 'Rueven' his great respect & admiration for those devout and unwavering spiritual leaders like Rebbe Saunders who through their uncompromising belief and sheer force-of-will kept Jewish identity alive for over 3 millennia, defying all odds.

This story is as old as the world! I don't write long reviews but this movie deserves a word!

Outstanding film dealing with social and moral conflict following the holocaust. By chance, 2 Jews, one secular, the other Chasidic form a friendship that seems to transcends their differences, while the former learns from the latter. We see anti-Semitism existing in our own N.Y. streets in the 1940s. We see the rift existing between a certain Chasidic sect and other Jewish groups when the former refuses to accept the state of Israel on the basis that the Messiah has yet to appear. We see two outstanding performances by Max Schell, as a secular professor who is a zealot when it comes to Zionism and a superb Rod Steiger, as the Chasidic rabbi, tightly holding on to tradition in a 20th century world. The accommodation reached by Steiger and his son by film's end is memorable and should never be forgotten.

This film, first of all, is brilliantly acted. It is a classic that is soon to be given proper credit now that is on DVD. I saw this a few years ago, halfway through, and just recently saw it in it's entirety, without commercials. You don't have to be Jewish to enjoy the beauty of this story of two young boys of the same faith, yet so different in their worlds. This can apply to any faith where one is primarily secular in their daily life, and one is orthodox in their daily life. I was drawn by the sensitive presentation of both fathers and sons relationships. All fathers can seem hard and unbending to us as we grow up. Only when we have our own children do we realize how lucky we were to have such fathers. Then we try to measure up to the example our own fathers set, as we raise our own children. This should be required viewing in schools I believe, it is a true gem, not to be missed. I never knew Robby Benson had this kind of talent!

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.

Let me start off by saying, the movie wasn't bad. It just wasn't good. It was decent to be kind. The movie was based on 'The Chosen' by Chaim Potok (My Name is Asher Lev, Davita's Harp), which was published in 1967. The book itself is an incredible read and would recommend reading the book as opposed to seeing the movie. To start off, the film quality was pretty awful as was the sound. The casting was less than stellar, with the exception of Maximilian Schell who was great as Professor David Malter. Robby Benson, who in his 70's peak of teenage heartthrob, was waning by this point when he portrayed Danny Saunders. Benson's acting seemed a tad bit forced, kind of like Donny Osmond trying to come back as a pop star in the 80's. Benson's line, 'Freud was a scientist, not just a dreamer!' still makes me cringe at the thought of it. Barry Miller was relatively decent (once again, being kind) of Reuven Malter, however didn't quite fit the book's description of him. The movie's transitions weren't particularly smooth, and they didn't age the characters well at all. The adaptation of the book to script left a lot to be desired. This movie, truly, did not do justice the book. Hopefully, someday, someone will make a remake of it.

This is one of those films that I had heard of and meant to see but didn't until recently. What an excellent film. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it and the actors. Take some time and watch this film. A wonderful portrayal of two young men who are very different but turn out to more alike then they could ever imagine.