Richard: Hi, I’m Richard Elbert, movie critic for the Denver
Post.
Ethan: And I’m Ethan Lichter, movie critic for the Cleveland
Plain Dealer. We’re devoting tonight’s show to one of our favorite directors,
Japanese auteur Kawasaki Fookiyama, and his new movie, Seder, which took
first place at this year’s Cannes Film Festival in the category “Most Difficult
to Understand.”
Richard: Fookiyama is known for his obscure, head scratching
movies – and proud of it.
Ethan: Seder is no different. What other director
would dare to make the shank bone a recurring image or pose as a central
question, “Why on this night do we dip twice?”
Richard: But don’t worry. Ethan and I were both Fookiyama
majors in film critic’s school. In the next hour we will guide you through Seder,
giving you our opinions as well as helping you understand Fookiyama’s latest
achievement.
Ethan: Seder tells the story of a modern nuclear
family, the Weiners, conducting an ancient Jewish ceremony in the comfort of
their own dining room.
Richard: Fookiyama usually leaves the key to the meaning of
his movies in the first scene. So let’s watch as the boldly determined Mr.
Weiner makes an intriguing announcement to start off the Seder …
Mr. Weiner: This is the bread of affliction that our fathers
ate in the land
of Egypt land of Israel
Richard: Looks like Fookiyama’s up to his old tricks. What
kind of crazy director would have his main character invite all the hungry and
needy in town to dinner at his house – when he’s already safe and sound at his
dinner table? If you really want to have guests, put some speakers in your car
and drive around before the Seder. Or buy space on a billboard on a
major highway: “Seder Tonight at The Weiners, Exit 3½ Miles, Across from Denny’s
– DRINKS ON THE HOUSE!!”
Ethan: But the perplexity of Mr. Weiner’s monologue doesn’t
end there. Tonight the Weiners celebrate the Redemption from Egypt . So why
is Mr. Weiner touting “the bread of affliction” the Jews “ate in the land of
Egypt” rather than the bread they took with them when they went out as free
people? And while his family is supposed to be experiencing freedom the whole
night, why does Mr. Weiner say that “next year” they will be free but “this
year” calls them “slaves”?
Richard: That’s kind of a bummer.
Ethan: Richard and I would like to tell you that we figured
out this movie. We didn’t. But instead of pretending like we did or turning
this into a Godfather retrospective, we decided to invite one of the
actors from Seder to explain it. Child star Sadie Weiner, playing
herself as the Weiner’s preteen, worked closely with Fookiyama in making the
movie, and she’s with us tonight … Sadie, tell us, what is Fookiyama really
like?
Sadie: He’s a little … How do they say it in Japan ? … Meshuga.
Ethan: But he is brilliant?
Sadie: Oh, yes. He almost beat my little brother in chess.
Richard: First off, that bizarre speech your father makes at
the beginning of the movie. He invites the hungry and needy to your Seder, but
the only people who hear the invitation is your family.
Sadie: My five-year-old brother, Zach, had some questions
for my father before we started the Seder. So in that little speech my father
was answering Zach’s questions.
Richard: Why don’t we watch that …?
Mrs. Weiner: Zach, take a tissue and blow. It’s not that
complicated. I don’t want to have to look at that the entire Seder.
Zach: Dad, I don’t get it. If G-d took us out of Egypt and made
us free, why do I have to go to school? Why are all the Arabs still trying to
kill us? Why does it take so long to download New Super Mario Forever 2012? And if we went out of Egypt with the
Egyptian’s wealth as G-d promised, why are there still poor Jews?
Mr. Weiner: This is the bread of affliction that our fathers
ate in the land
of Egypt land of Israel
Ethan: That kid’s incredible. I don’t care what age he is.
He’s getting my vote for best supporting actor … I’m still not sure, though,
how your dad answered his question.
Sadie: My father’s telling my brother that the Redemption
from Egypt
wasn’t complete. We’re still transitioning from slavery to freedom. That’s why
we continue to eat the bread “our fathers ate in the land of Egypt
Richard: Then if you’re poor slaves at the Seder, why is
your mother using the good china? Why aren’t you all dressed like hobos or
members of the World Wrestling Federation?
Sadie: We act and feel like free people at the Seder because
the Exodus from Egypt, even though it wasn’t the Final Redemption with Mashiach,
was the opening and channel to the ultimate freedom.
Ethan: And how did you get into the head of your character
there with your mom and dad, your brother with his runny nose, and all the
matzah?
Sadie: I pictured myself as a member of a nation that
embarked on a chartered flight this night many years ago, a flight that’s been
en route for a long, long time. I saw the plane finally arriving tonight – all
of us completing the journey together.
Richard: Sadie, that was wonderful. I think you’ve answered
all our questions. Thank you for helping us out tonight. By the way, what’s
your next movie going to be?
Sadie: I’m working on a project called The Haftorah
Lesson. It’s a prequel to Bar Mitzvah.
Richard: Interesting. Well, good luck, Sadie!
Ethan: So, Richard, what’s the final verdict on Seder?
Richard: I want to like this movie, but something’s holding
me back.
Ethan: What is it?
Richard: I hate to say it, but I think Mrs. Weiner
overcooked the brisket.
Ethan: Ohhhh! But other than that?
Richard: Other than that I thought it was great.
Ethan: Fookiyama baffles you. But you know, if you’re
patient and pay attention, sometimes he can make sense – and be beautiful. He
can even be fun.
Richard: You know what they say: “Kawasaki lets the good times roll!”
Ethan: Rich, I realize you were waiting the whole show to
say that. I just wish you’d waited a little longer.
No comments:
Post a Comment