Film Review : A Serious Man

The unimportance of being Earnest.
 

How much you like this film will entirely depend on how much time you are willing to spend with it. If all you are willing to part with is 90 minutes of your day with this expertly crafted piece of cinema, you will probably leave the theatre disappointed. You will probably be puzzled at the seemingly random prologue, at the unexpectedly abrupt ending, how nothing is tied up at the end, and at the complete lack of answers offered by the Coen Bothers.



If you are willing to put in the time, the thought and the consideration to the movie, you will be richly rewarded.



The Coen Brothers have crafted a parable. It may be a meaningless parable – but maybe that’s the point.



The plot follows the misfortunes of Larry Gopnik, a Jewish college professor, who is beset by a series of unfortunate events. His wife is leaving him, his career is in trouble, he has financial worries, and his neighbour is encroaching on his lawn. Just like Job, this earnest, pious, ‘good’ man is dealt blow after blow by fate, and searches for the answer to why it is happening to him. And then the film ends.



The film is brilliantly shot, and well acted. Although it displays very few of the Coens cinematic tricks, a couple of sequences coupled with the fine dialogue mark it out as uniquely ‘Coen-esque’. Michael Stuhlbarg is a perfect Coen actor – understatedand unknown, darkly tragic and willing to suffer the misfortunes the Coens like to laden onto their protagonists. Slowly breaking down with the burden of the trials of a cruel world. And then the film ends.



However, leave the theatre and spend some time thinking about the film, and you might realise that, like the story of Job (or the Goy’s teeth), there are no answers. Then the richness of the film begins to reveal itself. Watch this film and spend an hour or two talking about it with some like minded individuals, and you will have one of the most rewarding cinematic experiences of the year… and then find yourself online trying to book another ticket the next day.



I struggled with what rating to award this film. I am guessing that many people will not like it, and leave the theatre feeling confused, like the themes are too difficult and that the Coens have furnished us with questions but no answers. However, I am reluctant to penalise a film simply because it demands some thought and rumination from its audience. The fact that I have a completely different interpretation of the ending to any of my friends is exciting to me – especially as I am pretty sure that the Coens would consider each interpretation equally valid.



If you like to be challenged by a movie, and are willing to put in the time – I thoroughly recommend spending some time with Larry Gupnik. You won’t come up with any answers. But that’s the point.