Synopsis
<p><strong>40th Anniversary Screening</strong></p>
<p>In this provocative drama based on Chaim Potok’s bestselling novel, frictions over tradition and modernity test the vexed friendship of two Jewish teens from different religious factions in 1940s Williamsburg. Reuven (Barry Miller) is the son of a worldly progressive scholar; Danny (Robby Benson) is the son of an ultra-Orthodox rabbi (iconic Oscar-winning actors Maximilian Schell and Rod Steiger play the fathers). Though ideologically split, the boys bond around their love of stickball, until a rift over the creation of a Jewish homeland prompts painful choices and a search for one’s own destiny. Director Jeremy Kagan crafts a nuanced, authentic portrayal of Hasidic life and post-WWII turmoil within American Jewry.</p>
<p>In this provocative drama based on Chaim Potok’s bestselling novel, frictions over tradition and modernity test the vexed friendship of two Jewish teens from different religious factions in 1940s Williamsburg. Reuven (Barry Miller) is the son of a worldly progressive scholar; Danny (Robby Benson) is the son of an ultra-Orthodox rabbi (iconic Oscar-winning actors Maximilian Schell and Rod Steiger play the fathers). Though ideologically split, the boys bond around their love of stickball, until a rift over the creation of a Jewish homeland prompts painful choices and a search for one’s own destiny. Director Jeremy Kagan crafts a nuanced, authentic portrayal of Hasidic life and post-WWII turmoil within American Jewry.</p>
Run Time
108
Year
1981
Has Subtitles
On
Directors
Outlets
Hero Image
Image
Media Type
Title
The Chosen
Genre
Countries
Airtable ID
rec8B4V7flxAKwTTp
Content Hash
8a18e276254e872d671b92bf49946bfe
Festival/Series
Path
/film/chosen
IMDb ID
tt0082175
Sort Title
Chosen, The
Publish to ajff.org
On
Publish to ajffrecommends.org
On
Synopsis for ajffrecommends.org
In this provocative drama based on Chaim Potok’s bestselling novel, frictions over tradition and modernity test the vexed friendship of two Jewish teens from different religious factions in 1940s Williamsburg. Reuven (Barry Miller) is the son of a worldly progressive scholar; Danny (Robby Benson) is the son of an ultra-Orthodox rabbi (iconic Oscar-winning actors Maximilian Schell and Rod Steiger play the fathers). Though ideologically split, the boys bond around their love of stickball, until a rift over the creation of a Jewish homeland prompts painful choices and a search for one’s own destiny. Director Jeremy Kagan crafts a nuanced, authentic portrayal of Hasidic life and post-WWII turmoil within American Jewry.
Premiere Status