Just saw it tonight. Was wondering if anyone else saw it and there impressions. For me I felt it was quite good. It felt really after thinking about it for a hour or so a modern retelling of the book of Job.
Not necessarily. They start the movie out with the scene with the Jew and his wife and the Reb/Dyubb(sp.?). The point of it is to inquire as to whether there is a grander purpose behind things, or are some people just unlucky.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
There are two explanations:
Either the
1) religious perspective, as was inferred by all of the evidence, was right, that the Rabbi was actually a resurrected demon and that she did a service by dispatching him,
2) rational perspective; ghosts and demons don't exist, everything was a coincidence, and the woman murdered an innocent man.
For example, this guy has his whole life fall apart:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
His wife is leaving him, his kids are a mess, his tenure is in jeopardy, and, unbeknowest to him, he has several health problems.
There are several instances of what could be interpretted as divine intervention, justice, or revisionism.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Sy Abelman dying, the bribe money, the hot neighbor, etc.
Each of the rabbis comes at an important moment.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
The young, inexperienced, and naive rabbi tells him that he needs "fresh" perspective, and gives almost no useful advice. This happens when he's trying to analyze the relationship
The middle-aged rabbi is somewhat experienced, yet answers only in riddles, given a bizarre anecdote implying that there is a hidden meaning to this, which the narrating ends up believing because "things worked out in the end."
The last rabbi, the oldest, has a veneer of authenticity, with a fortified reputation and alleged wisdom, however, he only rewards a undisciplined child, the narrator's pot addicted son, with his instrument of distraction whilst singing a 1960s song. This is added to by the ending in which everyone (presumably) dies; his family from the tornado, and himself from a medical condition that is implied.
I have to disagree about the young rabbi. It seems as if he has the most real world perspective even if given in a awkward and may I say dorky way. I felt he was telling him that you should open your eyes to the good things around you even if at first its hard to see them. Larry seems unable to wrap his head around this, maybe due to the fact that he is the eye of the storm causing all the bad things in his life. He just let things be for to long and maybe should of gotten out of his constant robotic life.
A Serious Man
