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In Reply to: RE: A Serious Man... posted by mkuller on March 01, 2010 at 13:17:09
From the very beginning, this movie did not do any favors to Jews. The vignette in Yiddish at the beginning about the dybbuk (cursed soul) in the Old World was quickly followed up with a story about Jews being cursed in the New World. It relied heavily on Jewish stereotypes including big noses, schnorrer relatives and self-centered females with all the characters being unidimensional except the protagonist. But that didn't bother me nearly as much as the messaging.Some symbolism of note.
When Larry seeks to find a spiritual connection to his community and religion after his misfortunes begin, the first rabbi tells him to look out the window at the parking lot. Obviously, at face value, the rabbi was meant to be a buffoon, but I'm afraid the messaging is deeper than that. The camera zoomed in ever so slightly at the window and there was a wall calendar showing the dates of the six day war in 1967. That was of course when Israel defeated the surrounding enemies, averting existential threat and convincing many in the world that God was on the Jews' side. The Coens are basically saying through the rabbi, "American or diaspora Jews may be spiritually cut off from their heritage and identity, but at least they can look out the window and take comfort in the existence and triumph of Israel."Later in the film, of course, we find out that the threat of destruction is explored on multiple levels. Obviously Larry's family is in danger. His life is in danger as the cancer diagnosis comes out near the end. His morality his in danger as he finally succumbs to the temptation to change one of his students grades by accepting a bribe. But the final imagery of the tornado--a symbol of annihilation--descending upon the same parking lot where the first rabbi had asked Larry to look for comfort and spiritual grounding...this is rather unmistakable in its connotation.
Another point. Though the movie is set in 1967, the Coens bring in a Columbia Records clerk calling Larry because he has ordered Santana's 1970 album Abraxas, and not paid for it. Larry's exact quote is that he never ordered Abraxas, will not listen to Abraxas, does not want Abraxas. Abraxas is a philological word for God. It is after Larry rejects God that he changes the grade, loses morality, gets cancer and this sets the stage for the final imagery of the tornado descending on the community. Creepy.
On top of this, the acting and writing wasn't very good, the story was painfully boring, the music sucked...the cinematography was good but what do you expect with Roger Deakins. I was not pleased with this movie. I wanted the Coens to dig within themselves and come up with something meaningful about their heritage but instead it was just a creepy, stupid piece of crap with a fairly typical Hollywood perspective about religion and a fairly demonizing view about Jews. Not nice.
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We must be the change we wish to see in the world. -Gandhi
Edits: 03/02/10Follow Ups:
...more inaccuracies.
I was living in a fraternity house in 1968-69 and a few of us used to send in the card to sign up from time to time under obviously fake names - all at the same address.
You would get your 12 or 13 LPs and then a bill which needed to be paid before the monthly shipments were sent. Every month the bill would come, then collection notices.
I'm not proud of doing that but I discovered some great music I never would have bought.
An attorney once told me Columbia takes those losses as a cost of doing business, since they were so profitable, and would never come after anyone who didn't pay.
Much less call. On a daily basis.
But thank you for your micro-analysis as a Jew.
I don't get your reply. You said my post was inaccurate. Then you shared that you ripped off the Columbia Record Club as a college kid in the '60s. What does that have to do with my post or ASM? Did I miss your point? Did you understand my point about why the Coens set up Larry to say he "didn't order, doesn't want and wouldn't listen to" Abraxas, meaning he rejects G-d. Because that certainly is an accurate interpretation, and was quickly followed by Larry succumbing to bribery, cancer diagnosis and a broader symbol of existential threat.
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We must be the change we wish to see in the world. -Gandhi
...the film's showing Columbia Records going after someone for not paying, based upon mkuller's personal recollection of the time.
Looks like a worthwhile film about a time I still remember as a kid, with very interesting symbolism - according to your description.
Agreed that the whole premise of the record club calling was forced, but so much of the humor and subplots were forced and uncomfortable. The symbolism was also jarring, and more upsetting than interesting. Yes, everyone knows the Jews faced a destructive threat in 1967 and every other generation, but this personalized it and depicted it in multiple levels and creepy ways that really don't do anyone any favors.I almost fell asleep when I saw this snoozer in the theater--I practically had to hold my eyes open with my fingers. If I never see it again I will consider myself lucky.
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We must be the change we wish to see in the world. -Gandhi
Edits: 03/04/10 03/04/10
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