Gentle eyes don't lie

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Movie
German title Strangers / gentle eyes don't lie
Original title A Stranger Among Us
Country of production United States
original language English , Yiddish
Publishing year 1992
length 110 minutes
Age rating FSK 12
Rod
Director Sidney Lumet
script Robert J. Avrech
production Steve Golin ,
Howard Rosenman ,
Sigurjón Sighvatsson ,
Carol Baum ,
Sandy Gallin
music Jerry Bock
camera Andrzej Bartkowiak
cut Andrew Mondshein
occupation

Soft eyes don't lie (Original title: A Stranger Among Us ) is an American drama from 1992 . The crime film gives deep insights into life within a Jewish community. The director Sidney Lumet himself has Jewish roots.

The film was also marketed in Germany under the English title Strangers , probably to appeal to a young audience.

Plot (summary)

In the Diamond District of New York, a young member of the Hasidim Jewish community is brutally murdered in his New York office. There are no signs of a fight, no fingerprints and no evidence of the perpetrator. The investigation is entrusted to Detective Emily Eden of the homicide department of the New York City Police Department , whose partner is in the hospital after an exchange of fire. After interviewing family members and closest friends of the murdered man, Detective Eden decided that the victim must have known his killer because the alarm system was switched off and three bags of diamonds worth $ 720,000 had disappeared . In order to track down the perpetrator, she takes the only path that appears meaningful to her, to live with the Hasidim and to gain an insight into their culture and beliefs. The rabbi agrees, and his adoptive son Ariel and his sister Leah introduce them to the life of the ultra-Orthodox community. The life in the community, the human closeness, the joy of life and friendliness of the community, the experiences of the Rebbe during the Holocaust and the commonalities of being able to see the good in such a world change Emily and her life. She does not lose sight of her main goal until the murder is solved, but she also gets closer to Ariel, the tzaddik of the Hasidic community, and his sister despite the cultural differences, and finds the perpetrator.

Reviews

Kino.de said, “Old master Sidney Lumet is once again exploring a cultural fringe group of the Big Apple and is thus thematically about the same terrain as Peter Weir's masterpiece The Only Witness . Lumet, however, moves the crime story into the background and devotes itself in detail and with impressive images to the clash of opposing cultures ... Promising crime food with cultural depth. "

“An excellently staged and cast thriller that draws its charm from the encounter with the strange world of the Hasidim religious community. Less interested in external tension than in the unfolding of the various aspects of Hasidic culture. "

Awards

  • 1992 Cannes Film Festival: Palme d'Or for Sidney Lumet, nomination.
  • 1992 International Fantasy Film Award: Best Film for Sidney Lumet, nomination.
  • 1993 Golden Raspberry: Worst Actress for Melanie Griffith.
  • 1993 Golden Raspberry: Worst Supporting Actress for Tracy Pollan.

background

The film was shot in New York City in the fall of 1991 . Its world premiere took place on July 17, 1992 on the occasion of the Cannes Film Festival . The feature film was produced by Propaganda / Sandollar / Isis and is distributed by PolyGram / Hollywood Pictures / Touchwood Pacific Partners. James Gadolfini made his first appearance in a Hollywood production as a protection racketeer .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. cinema.de
  2. kino.de
  3. Soft eyes do not lie. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed December 8, 2016 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used 
  4. a b c d e imdb
  5. festival-cannes.com