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The Believer | Year: 2001 Classification: Drama Directed: - Henry Bean Actors/Actresses: - Ryan Gosling - Summer Phoenix Disturbing, Provocative, but Worthwhile When it comes to a film such as The Believer, the film deserves the highest praise. The movie won an award at Sundance in 2001and it is easy to see why it deserves to be honored. The Believer is deeply disturbing, but the qualities which make the film rather disturbing also makes it convincing. The expression there is a fine line between love and hate aptly fits this film. The protagonist has a love/hate relationship with his Jewish heritage, which drives him to extremes. It is a masterfully written piece about an angry young man named Daniel Biliant played masterfully by Ryan Gossling. We meet Danny as this fascist neo-Nazi. He has a deep hatred for Jewish people, but he also has a vast knowledge about the Jewish faith. He claims his reason for his hatred is due to his belief that one has to know one's enemies. The truth is that he is wrestling with the pain and tragedy of Jewish history and cannot understand in his mind at least, why the Jewish people never fought back. Danny's faith and questions haunt him throughout the film, and a conversion of heart seems about ready to take place quite a few times, but viewers will have to decide if a conversion ever takes place, and given the complex nature of this film, the answers could be quite varied. The film exposes the complete absurdity of anti-Semitism. It also exposes hatred so well, this film will challenge all viewers to look squarely at prejudice, and the irrationality of prejudice. We also meet well dressed "Yuppie" fascists as well as skinhead punks in the film, showing that hatred can show its ugly face in any setting, regardless of wealth and education. It's too bad that the film did not receive greater attention when it was first released in theatres. Its powerful message has lessons that our country still needs to hear, and perhaps in this post 9-11 world, we need to reexamine the message of this film as we try and understand hatred, and the damage that hatred has done, can do, and will continue to do, until the issue is looked at squarely. I believe it's good Okay, I'll get the cliche out of the way right now: "The Believer" is a thought-provoking movie. Love it or hate it (and this is a movie that could easily inspire both views), "The Believer" will almost certainly make you think. Telling the story of a Jewish neo-Nazi named Danny Balint, the movie is a harrowing examination of the nature of belief and self-perception, every bit as provocative and hard-hitting as the better-known "American History X." Although the idea of a Jew who hates his own people may seem contradictory, the movie reconciles it very well. Through frequent flashbacks to Danny's Yeshiva class, the audience sees that Danny feels God is a bully and the entire history of the Jewish people is one of weakness and submission. Although much of his propaganda is just tired repetition of Nazi beliefs, Ryan Gosling's performance invests what he says with undeniable conviction. Danny's hatred is deeply rooted in his childhood experiences, and unlike many of his skinhead bullies, he *believes*. At the same time, Danny seems conflicted about what exactly it is that he believes. In one scene vitriolic anti-Semitic sentiments are pouring out of his mouth, in another he's repairing a sacred Jewish scroll that his friends have damaged. No matter how hard Danny tries to reject his roots, it seems the connection to them is too strong to sever completely. I think what "The Believer" was trying to get at is the confusion young people experience between accepting what they're taught and forging their own beliefs. Danny clearly has strong feelings and wants to believe *something*, but is having trouble figuring out what it is. In that sense, "The Believer" is about as apt a title for a movie as I've ever heard. It can be viewed in its most obvious form as a cautionary tale about the seductive nature and the dangerous potential of hatred, but that's a somewhat narrow view. What I thought the makers of the film were really going for was an examination of the difficulty young people can have in finding both their place in the world and their own belief system. But whichever way you look at it, "The Believer" is a gripping view, and highly recommended. Mesmerizing script! Th of being a B5 fan was FINDING it. (Our local station played ping-pong with its time slot.) To own uncut, widescreen versions on DVD o ia> Buy The Believer at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on The Believer Search with the Priority Search Engine on The Believer This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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