A STRANGER AMONG US
A film review by Mark R. Leeper
Copyright 1992 Mark R. Leeper
Capsule review: Yes, it's pretty much what the television ads make it look like. Melanie Griffith stars in a plot not unlike that of WITNESS, but with Hasidic Jews. Of course, it is not often we see the Hasidic community in film. And Sidney Lumet keeps the film consistently intriguing and often on a philosophical level. Rating: high +1 (-4 to +4).
At first look A STRANGER AMONG US looks a trifle too formulaic to be a Sydney Lumet film. Lumet's films are usually hard-hitting and very original. Just a few of his films are TWELVE ANGRY MEN; FAIL SAFE; the superb, intense film THE PAWNBROKER; THE ANDERSON TAPES; MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS; DOG DAY AFTERNOON; and NETWORK. This does not sound like the kind of director who would make a retread of WITNESS. But that is certainly how the television ads make this film look. It looks like WITNESS retold, but set among the Hasidic Jews of New York City. Is that what A STRANGER AMONG US is? Well, yes and no. Yes to the extent that it certainly is a murder mystery that will take a police detective into a totally alien culture from what she--in this case she--has known. And she does learn to respect that culture. It even has many of the faults of WITNESS. It is about a lot of things, like violence and sex, that members of the community would try to avoid. And at the same time it idealizes that community (and doing both at the same time *could* be viewed as hypocrisy). On the other hand, Orthodox Jews are a major and important of the culture of New York City, like Chinese and Blacks and many others, but how often do they show up in major films? How many films take the audience into this community? The only other film that comes to mind is Jeremy Kagan's THE CHOSEN.
Police Detective Emily Eden (played by Melanie Griffith) is having second thoughts about her life. By being too much of a "cowboy" and not following proper procedures, she just got her partner and current lover stabbed and nearly killed. She feels guilt about that and at the same time she is dissatisfied with her life in general. She is given a light assignment. She is to investigate the disappearance of an Hasidic diamond cutter who may have run off with some diamonds. Visiting the family of the missing man at first gives her the discomfort of sticking out with her short sleeves, her short skirt, and her profanity. However, the investigation becomes a murder case that she must move into the Hasidic community to investigate.
At this point in the plot it becomes clear that the real story is about how Eden sees and interfaces with the community. The actual mystery plot may account for about half an hour and is not the main thrust of the film. Instead we see conflicts of values and Eden's growing understanding of and respect for the Hasidim. Her lifestyle as seen by the Hasidim has been the victory of freedom over values. She sees theirs as the victory of values over freedom. She also will have a close relationship with Ariel (played by Eric Thal), a young scholar destined to be the leader of the community.
In some ways this film could have been handled much better. There is some spectacular photography of New York City. But once inside the Jewish community every indoor scene is shot in annoying sepia tones. At times the sepia filter frustratingly obscures detail in the sets. It gives an artificial and uncomfortable feel to the film. Perhaps the Hasidic life is over-idealized. Everyone seems to be friendly and gets along with each other. It is possible that in a lifestyle this rigid there is less possibility for conflict, but whether that reflects reality or not I do not know. The mystery aspect of the story is just not given much time in the script. It is a little too simple and perhaps written a little sloppily.
Still, A STRANGER AMONG US offers a view into a culture rarely shown in films. The background is the whole show. I give it a high +1 on the -4 to +4 scale.
Mark R. Leeper
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