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film review
Summer 2022-04-22 07:01:17
Seeing the comments of many people, they regard the "uncertainty" of life as the core of this film. If the film is really about an "uncertainty" that is the essence of life, then it is really uncritical. What the story presents to us is an absurd "uncertainty", but what brings this absurdity? Making a Jewish community the subject of the film was an excellent choice. In fact, it is not Judaism itself that is discussed here, but it is used as a wonderful coordinate to highlight the absurdity of life. Judaism is perhaps the religion with the most certainty of life apart from Islam. They have strict laws, wise rabbis, formerly prophets as God's mouthpieces, and most importantly, they have a certain belief in the destiny of their own nation - God's chosen people. And being a serious member of such a group, life has been dismantled into pieces with no certainty, almost incomprehensible. Therefore, I personally think that what the film conveys is actually an era crisis of American life, which has eroded even the most traditional group, because the Jewish community also lived in this era. The stupid media, the alienated professor election system, the hypocritical lawyers, the indifferent relationship between people, the failed education... It is all these that make life absurd and uncertain. Isn't this comedy? This is exactly the type of classic comedy. Just as tragedy is supposed to cleanse the soul, comedy is just as poignant, ironic, and ridiculous as it is.
Extended Reading
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Sy Ableman: Do you drink wine? Because this is an incredible bottle. This is not Mogen David. This is a - heh heh - a wine, Larry. A Bordeaux.
Larry Gopnik: You know, Sy...
Sy Ableman: Open it. Let it breathe. Ten minutes. Letting it breathe, so important.
Larry Gopnik: Thanks, Sy, but I'm not...
Sy Ableman: I insist! No reason for discomfort. I'll be uncomfortable if you don't take it. These are signs and tokens, Larry.
Larry Gopnik: I'm just-I'm not ungrateful, I'm, I just don't know a lot about wine and, given our respective, you know...
[Sy abruptly hugs him]
Sy Ableman: S'okay. S'okay. We're gonna be fine.
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Arlen Finkle: We, uh, we decide on Wednesday, so if there's anything you want to submit in support of your tenure application, we should have it by then. That's all.
Larry Gopnik: Submit. What. What do you...
Arlen Finkle: Well. Anything. Published work. Anything else you've done outside of the institution. Any work that we might not be aware of.
Larry Gopnik: I haven't done anything.
Arlen Finkle: Uh-huh.
Larry Gopnik: I haven't published.
Arlen Finkle: Uh-huh.
Larry Gopnik: Are you still getting those letters?
Arlen Finkle: Uh-huh.
Larry Gopnik: Those anonymous...
Arlen Finkle: Yes, I know. Yes.
Larry Gopnik: Okay. Okay. Wednesday.
Arlen Finkle: Okay. Don't worry. Doing nothing is not bad. Ipso facto.