A Stranger Among Us
Encyclopedia
A Stranger Among Us is a film directed by Sidney Lumet
and starring Melanie Griffith
, released in 1992. It tells the story of an undercover police officer's experiences in a Hasidic community. It was entered into the 1992 Cannes Film Festival
.
It is often cited as one of Lumet's two failures of the 1990s, the other being Guilty as Sin
(1993). Despite the poor reviews suffered by both these films, Lumet received the 1993 D. W. Griffith Award of the Directors Guild of America
. Some of the criticism of A Stranger Among Us is based on comparisons with the Academy Award-winning film Witness
, which has a superficially similar plot. Similarly, Lumet's earlier film Fail-Safe
was unfavorably compared to Dr. Strangelove, but in that case both films have subsequently achieved cult
status. Griffith's performance in the lead role has also been heavily criticized, for which her role won her the Razzie Award for Worst Actress
(also for the year's Worst Picture, Shining Through
), while Tracy Pollan
was nominated for Worst Supporting Actress
. The film was the first credited role for actor James Gandolfini
.
hardened homicide detective, goes undercover to investigate the murder of a Hasidic diamond-cutter
. To do so, she lives with the family of the Hasidic rebbe
, an elderly Holocaust survivor who is revered for his wisdom and compassion toward his fellow Jews. He says to her, "You and I have something in common: We are both intimately familiar with evil
. It does something to your soul."
While living with the rebbe's family, she takes a liking to his son, Ariel (Eric Thal
), a young man who works as a diamond-cutter but teaches in the yeshiva
and is expected to follow his father as the next rebbe. In addition to keeping all 613 Mitzvot
, he is waiting for his intended, or bashert, the daughter of a Paris
rebbe whom he has not yet actually met. They are the subjects of an arranged marriage, but he believes that she is his soul mate, chosen by God. He is also studying the Kabbalah
, which is regarded as rather daring for a man under 40. Its discussion of sexual intimacy is restrained but specific, as well as a metaphor for the relationship between Man and God.
The crisis of the film is when Emily finds out that the "inside man" in the murder plot is the rebbe's adopted daughter, Mara (Tracy Pollan
), who had been living a disorderly life until the future murder victim, Yaakov Klausman (Jake Weber
), introduced her to the rebbe. Afterwards, she joined the community as a repentant baalat tshuva
, "one who has returned," until a person from her past approached her and she let him into the Diamond Center to kill Yaakov and steal diamonds worth about $750,000.
This is all Emily needs to solve the case and arrest Mara as an accessory to murder (or for the crime of felony murder
); but, when Emily returns to the rebbe's home with Ariel, she finds that Mara has taken the rebbe's daughter hostage. After Emily attempts to negotiate, Mara knocks her out; and Ariel shoots Mara with Emily's gun. Ariel comments that sometimes an evil deed has a partially good result. (The filming of the shootout took place at the Eldridge Street Synagogue
on the Lower East Side
of Manhattan
.)
The film ends with the wedding of Ariel and his bashert, Shayna Singer, which Emily watches from a distance.
Sidney Lumet
Sidney Lumet was an American director, producer and screenwriter with over 50 films to his credit. He was nominated for the Academy Award as Best Director for 12 Angry Men , Dog Day Afternoon , Network and The Verdict...
and starring Melanie Griffith
Melanie Griffith
Melanie Richards Griffith is an American actress. She is an Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner for her performance in the 1988 film Working Girl...
, released in 1992. It tells the story of an undercover police officer's experiences in a Hasidic community. It was entered into the 1992 Cannes Film Festival
1992 Cannes Film Festival
- Jury :*Gérard Depardieu *John Boorman *Carlo Di Palma *Jamie Lee Curtis *Joële Van Effenterre *Lester James Peries *Nana Djordjadze *Pedro Almodóvar *René Cleitman...
.
It is often cited as one of Lumet's two failures of the 1990s, the other being Guilty as Sin
Guilty as Sin
Guilty as Sin is a 1993 film directed by Sidney Lumet. It stars Don Johnson and Rebecca De Mornay, and was produced by Hollywood Pictures.-Plot:Jennifer Haines is an up-and-coming Chicago attorney...
(1993). Despite the poor reviews suffered by both these films, Lumet received the 1993 D. W. Griffith Award of the Directors Guild of America
Directors Guild of America
Directors Guild of America is an entertainment labor union which represents the interests of film and television directors in the United States motion picture industry...
. Some of the criticism of A Stranger Among Us is based on comparisons with the Academy Award-winning film Witness
Witness (1985 film)
Witness is a 1985 American thriller film directed by Peter Weir and starring Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis. The screenplay by William Kelley, Pamela Wallace, and Earl W...
, which has a superficially similar plot. Similarly, Lumet's earlier film Fail-Safe
Fail-Safe (1964 film)
Fail-Safe is a 1964 film directed by Sidney Lumet, based on the 1962 novel of the same name by Eugene Burdick and Harvey Wheeler. It tells the story of a fictional Cold War nuclear crisis...
was unfavorably compared to Dr. Strangelove, but in that case both films have subsequently achieved cult
Cult following
A cult following is a group of fans who are highly dedicated to a specific area of pop culture. A film, book, band, or video game, among other things, will be said to have a cult following when it has a small but very passionate fan base...
status. Griffith's performance in the lead role has also been heavily criticized, for which her role won her the Razzie Award for Worst Actress
Razzie Award for Worst Actress
The Razzie Award for Worst Actress is an award presented at the annual Golden Raspberry Awards to the worst actress of the previous year. The following is a list of nominees and recipients of that award, along with the film for which they were nominated....
(also for the year's Worst Picture, Shining Through
Shining Through
Shining Through is a 1992 British-American World War II film drama, directed and written by David Seltzer and starring Michael Douglas and Melanie Griffith, with Liam Neeson, Joely Richardson and John Gielgud in supporting roles. Although based on the novel of the same name by Susan Isaacs, the...
), while Tracy Pollan
Tracy Pollan
Tracy Jo Pollan is an American actress. She is perhaps best-known for her recurring role as Ellen Reed on the sitcom Family Ties in the mid-1980s. It was on this show that she met future husband Michael J. Fox.-Personal life:...
was nominated for Worst Supporting Actress
Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress
The Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress is an award presented at the annual Golden Raspberry Awards to the worst supporting actress of the previous year...
. The film was the first credited role for actor James Gandolfini
James Gandolfini
James J. Gandolfini, Jr. is an Italian American actor. He is best known for his role as Tony Soprano in the HBO TV series The Sopranos, about a troubled crime boss struggling to balance his family life and career in the Mafia...
.
Plot
Emily Eden (Griffith), a New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
hardened homicide detective, goes undercover to investigate the murder of a Hasidic diamond-cutter
Diamond cutting
Diamond cutting is the art, skill and, increasingly, science of changing a diamond from a rough stone into a faceted gem. Cutting diamond requires specialized knowledge, tools, equipment, and techniques because of its extreme difficulty....
. To do so, she lives with the family of the Hasidic rebbe
Rebbe
Rebbe , which means master, teacher, or mentor, is a Yiddish word derived from the Hebrew word Rabbi. It often refers to the leader of a Hasidic Jewish movement...
, an elderly Holocaust survivor who is revered for his wisdom and compassion toward his fellow Jews. He says to her, "You and I have something in common: We are both intimately familiar with evil
Evil
Evil is the violation of, or intent to violate, some moral code. Evil is usually seen as the dualistic opposite of good. Definitions of evil vary along with analysis of its root motive causes, however general actions commonly considered evil include: conscious and deliberate wrongdoing,...
. It does something to your soul."
While living with the rebbe's family, she takes a liking to his son, Ariel (Eric Thal
Eric Thal
Eric Thal is an American film and stage actor, perhaps best known for his film roles as Ariel, opposite Melanie Griffith in Sidney Lumet's A Stranger Among Us; Sam Nivens, Donald Sutherland's son, in The Puppet Masters; Samson, opposite Elizabeth Hurley, in Samson and Delilah; Meade Howell, the...
), a young man who works as a diamond-cutter but teaches in the yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
and is expected to follow his father as the next rebbe. In addition to keeping all 613 Mitzvot
613 mitzvot
The 613 commandments is a numbering of the statements and principles of law, ethics, and spiritual practice contained in the Torah or Five Books of Moses...
, he is waiting for his intended, or bashert, the daughter of a Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
rebbe whom he has not yet actually met. They are the subjects of an arranged marriage, but he believes that she is his soul mate, chosen by God. He is also studying the Kabbalah
Kabbalah
Kabbalah/Kabala is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the esoteric aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It was systematized in 11th-13th century Hachmei Provence and Spain, and again after the Expulsion from Spain, in 16th century Ottoman Palestine...
, which is regarded as rather daring for a man under 40. Its discussion of sexual intimacy is restrained but specific, as well as a metaphor for the relationship between Man and God.
The crisis of the film is when Emily finds out that the "inside man" in the murder plot is the rebbe's adopted daughter, Mara (Tracy Pollan
Tracy Pollan
Tracy Jo Pollan is an American actress. She is perhaps best-known for her recurring role as Ellen Reed on the sitcom Family Ties in the mid-1980s. It was on this show that she met future husband Michael J. Fox.-Personal life:...
), who had been living a disorderly life until the future murder victim, Yaakov Klausman (Jake Weber
Jake Weber
Jake Weber is an English actor, known in film for his role as Michael in Dawn of the Dead and for his role as Drew in Meet Joe Black...
), introduced her to the rebbe. Afterwards, she joined the community as a repentant baalat tshuva
Baal teshuva
Baal teshuva or ba'al teshuvah , sometimes abbreviated to BT, is a term referring to a Jew who turns to embrace Orthodox Judaism. Baal teshuva literally means, "repentant", i.e., one who has repented or "returned" to God...
, "one who has returned," until a person from her past approached her and she let him into the Diamond Center to kill Yaakov and steal diamonds worth about $750,000.
This is all Emily needs to solve the case and arrest Mara as an accessory to murder (or for the crime of felony murder
Felony murder
The rule of felony murder is a legal doctrine in some common law jurisdictions that broadens the crime of murder in two ways. First, when an offender kills accidentally or without specific intent to kill in the course of an applicable felony, what might have been manslaughter is escalated to murder...
); but, when Emily returns to the rebbe's home with Ariel, she finds that Mara has taken the rebbe's daughter hostage. After Emily attempts to negotiate, Mara knocks her out; and Ariel shoots Mara with Emily's gun. Ariel comments that sometimes an evil deed has a partially good result. (The filming of the shootout took place at the Eldridge Street Synagogue
Eldridge Street Synagogue
The Eldridge Street Synagogue, built in 1887, is National Historic Landmark synagogue on Manhattan's Lower East Side.-History:The Eldridge Street Synagogue is the first synagogue erected in the United States by Eastern European Jews. One of the founders was Rabbi Eliahu the Blessed , formerly the...
on the Lower East Side
Lower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
.)
The film ends with the wedding of Ariel and his bashert, Shayna Singer, which Emily watches from a distance.
Cast
- Melanie GriffithMelanie GriffithMelanie Richards Griffith is an American actress. She is an Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner for her performance in the 1988 film Working Girl...
— Emily Eden - John PankowJohn PankowJohn Pankow is an American film and stage actor. He is perhaps best known for a supporting role on the sitcom Mad About You .-Early life:...
— Levine - Tracy PollanTracy PollanTracy Jo Pollan is an American actress. She is perhaps best-known for her recurring role as Ellen Reed on the sitcom Family Ties in the mid-1980s. It was on this show that she met future husband Michael J. Fox.-Personal life:...
— Mara - Lee Richardson — Rebbe
- Mia Sara — Leah
- Jamey SheridanJamey SheridanJames Patrick "Jamey" Sheridan is an American actor. He was born in Pasadena, California.He has had a prolific acting career in theater, television, and feature film productions. Born to a family of actors, he made it to Broadway and earned a Tony nomination in 1987 for his performance in the...
— Nick - Eric ThalEric ThalEric Thal is an American film and stage actor, perhaps best known for his film roles as Ariel, opposite Melanie Griffith in Sidney Lumet's A Stranger Among Us; Sam Nivens, Donald Sutherland's son, in The Puppet Masters; Samson, opposite Elizabeth Hurley, in Samson and Delilah; Meade Howell, the...
— Ariel - David MarguliesDavid MarguliesDavid Joseph Margulies is an American actor.Margulies was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Runya , a nurse and museum worker, and Harry David Margulies, a lawyer. Margulies graduated from City College of New York. Immediately afterward, he made his stage debut in the off-Broadway play Golden 6...
— Lt. Oliver - Burtt Harris — Emily's Father
- James GandolfiniJames GandolfiniJames J. Gandolfini, Jr. is an Italian American actor. He is best known for his role as Tony Soprano in the HBO TV series The Sopranos, about a troubled crime boss struggling to balance his family life and career in the Mafia...
— Tony Baldessari - Chris Latta — Chris Baldessari
- Marie Holst - Rabbi's Wife
- Jake WeberJake WeberJake Weber is an English actor, known in film for his role as Michael in Dawn of the Dead and for his role as Drew in Meet Joe Black...
— Yaakov Klausman