MovieChat Forums > Trembling Before G-d (2001) Discussion > movie was awful

movie was awful

posted 19 years ago by alg11297
14 replies | jump to latest

I couldn't decide if the movie was an insult to jews or gays or both. Alot of closeups of the food people are preparing. Lots of emotion about just nothing.
Left out, of course, were simple things like how many gay partners did each of the men or women have before they realized they were gay. How could an orthodox person realize they were gay if they weren't married and had sex before marriage? What you have is alot of people with their "soul searching" attitude about meeting the right person who tells you more about yourself. Then you have all these people who "came out" (in their own words) but won't appear bodily in the film.

Generally when you are shown one side of an issue and don't give anything resembling another side, or any other point of view, what you wind up with is something called Propaganda.

Finally....do any of these people have jobs? Not one seemed to be employed in any capacity but had time to give interviews and follow around with a film maker. None of them seem to have any interest in any other topic other than talking about themselves and their gayness. I guess it was their attempt at appearing to be intereting in their own eyes.

[–] kyla_mckizzle 19 years ago

"How could an orthodox person realize they were gay if they weren't married and had sex before marriage?"

how could any person realize they were gay if they didn't have sex?

ugh...what an attitude.

Look, it's not all about sex. Did you know you were straight (i'm gonna take a big leap here and assume that you're straight) before you had your first sexual encounter?

Or did you have to experiment around for a while, to find out what you liked.

Whether a person is gay, straight, bisexual or whatever doesn't just have to do with sex. It's about love and emotions too.

[–] morosin 19 years ago

how could any person realize they were gay if they didn't have sex?

ugh...what an attitude.

ever heard about sexual fantasies or masturbation? ugh

Did you know you were straight (i'm gonna take a big leap here and assume that you're straight) before you had your first sexual encounter?

most people do. that counts for people of different sex. orientations, too.

Whether a person is gay, straight, bisexual or whatever doesn't just have to do with sex. It's about love and emotions too.

damn right about the emotions, therefore most people know, who they're having a crush on.

[–] BenWhitehouse1979 19 years ago

Considering that the film was made over a long period of time (The director describes it as a labour of love) and the sensitivity with which the people had to be interviewed your comments really offend me.

Other points of view were given. By my count there were a lot of Orthodox Rabbis who were saying that Gay people should find other ways to live. You've also got to hear what isn't said. How many people's interviews ended up on the cutting room floor.

The director is seeking to make the invisible visible- LGBT people weren't given space to speak within the Orthodox community. They'd set up online discussion places or keep to the very fringes of Jewish society. Now their pain has been openly shared by a film maker and a community can begin to heal and respond meaningfully to it's sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters who are LGBT.

[–] alg11297 19 years ago

oy the pain these people had to go through.....why did they all act like children? Most people have problems. They seek out counselors, rabbis or doctors. Instead they have to tell the world of their terrible dilemma. If you want attention why not hold your breathe until you turn blue....oh..that would be immature..it would be better to make a movie about it. The whole point is that it solves nothing but it does give the director a means of making a name for himself. Since the making of this film do you see any healing going on?

[–] emhutch 19 years ago

Why is it the only time you post is to complain?

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] manocat88 18 years ago

I would like an administrator to explain why my previous response to this poster was deleted. I did not say anthing obscene, inflammatory, use hate speech or otherwise violate any of the Terms & Conditions of this board.

This entire thread is a discussion of the tensions between the Ultra-Orthodox and the gay community, which is what the movie was about.

My post expressed concern that the poster above is minimizing the pain caused to gay people by the Orthodox community, which is what the entire film we are discussing is about. The above poster says gay Orthodox people who are suffering emotionally due to having been completely rejected by their communities and families (which does not seem very Godly on the part of the Orthodox) should just shut up and get therapy rather than try to explain their pain to the world.

Should Jewish people after WWII have just shut up and gotten therapy rather than told the world of their dilemma?

I am thoroughly disappointed in this poster's attitude, and will be even more greatly disappointed if this post is deleted by an administrator. If this post is deleted, I will seek a full explanation as to why.

If you do not wish people to have an open and respectful discussion of the issues presented in this film, or if you are deleting this post due to your own religious convictions, please be brave and say so.

[–] statesmashers 18 years ago

Hear, Hear.

[–] jacksflicks 17 years ago

Guess this will get censored, too.

The original poster is an idiot.

[–] dathaler 14 years ago

"Since the making of this film do you see any healing going on?"

It may interest you and others to know that the DVD contains many extras including cast members who decided to show their faces and a scene where that AWFUL rabbi publicly apologizes to David for making him feel like pondscum. There are also snippets of interviews with formerly closeted gay people who saw the film and decided to come out (and yes, they appear on camera).

Since the release of this film, many Jewish organizations and youth groups (including students at Yeshiva University) have screened it to increase visibility and promote discussion. As a related aside, several gay students and alumni of Yeshiva University spoke openly at a recent campus event about their experiences; the venue filled up and people had to be turned away. And surprise...God didn't strike them down; everybody lived.

This film may have also prompted the making of a similar film about gay Muslims that was released in 2009.

So yes, I think there's a lot of healing going on now that religious gays aren't just nameless, faceless beings.

[–] francienol 17 years ago

I think it is safe to say that most people know they are straight or gay before they EVER have sex. Didn't you? ALG, you are a pinhead---duh!

Talking only about themselves? They were being interviewed for a film--what did you want them to talk about--which horse was going to come in first during the third race at Saratoga?

People often appear incognito or off camera in a doc, in this particular community, they may fear for their lives, their jobs, etc.--that's a no-brainer.

Jobs??? I don't think these people were being interviewed for 24 hour stretches--I'm sure they found time for their jobs.

Anyone who tells a lie has not a pure heart, and cannot make a good soup. Ludwig Van Beethoven

[–] nobodies666 17 years ago

This movie looks weird.

I Chris Marquette, Jared Leto, Adam Sandler, & the show Freaks And Geeks!

[–] MetalAngel 15 years ago

I have to agree with you. I've been searching for this documentary ever since I saw its trailer. Critics hailed the film as "intense" and "life-changing", but it doesn't even come close. True, the film has its strong moments and a couple of the stories narrated there are madening and incense you. But there is something about the ambivalent or unbiased point of view the director takes with the film. It's like he was trying to be too controversial but didn't succeed on it. The pro-gay/lesbian points of view are frequently repeated and not very well supported and the Jewish religion in itself is treated like a monster that eats gay people alive. After a while, you get so tired of seing people moan and be followed around by cameras during a normal day in their life that you stop caring about the next thing they're gonna say.
I'm gay, and I showed this film to a group of jewish friends of mine to "show them that being gay is normal and you can actually be gay AND religious at the same time." The result by the end of the film was we ALL were still more confused.
Don't get me wrong, there are some very good parts, and the structure the interviews took was light-hearted and serious at the same time...but this isn't a film that's "intense" or that will "change lives". I give it 2 stars out of 4.