During WWII, Lawrence Newman (William H. Macy) holds a responsible job in personel in a NYC office. But as the war goes on, his superiors begin to suspect that Newman is a Jew and he's gradually demoted and eventually loses his job as a result.
Newman and his infirmed mother (Kay Hawtrey) have lived in the same Brooklyn neighborhood for a long, long time. They are well liked by their neighbors. Newman doesn't reveal to his neighbors that he's lost his job.
As he's applying for a new job, he again meets up with Gertrude Hart (Laura Dern) who is now in charge of hiring for another company but who was rejected by Newman as an applicant for a secretarial job at Newman's former company. Newman was told not to hire her because his superiors thought she was Jewish. Gertrude and Newman strike up a romance and get married, and continue to live in the same house with his mother.
Before the end of the war, Newman notices the growing anti-semitism in his neighborhood. The residents are all refusing to buy newspapers from the Jewish shop owner (David Paymer) on the corner even though for years he was an accepted member of the community. The storekeep, Finkelstein, is being threatened. About the time the neighbors decide that Newman and Gert are Jews, too, Newman goes to the defense of Finklestein and the neighors go all out to intimidate the Newmans and Finkelstein, even to the point of violence. Newman's neighbor Fred (Meat Loaf Aday) leads the effort to drive out what he feels is not acceptable in the neighborhood.
It's a struggle for survival and dignity in the midst of chaos and prejudice.
Based on a novel by Arthur Miller. Directed by Neal Slavin.
Rated PG-13 for thematic material, violence and some sexual content.
My personal rating: A
Newman and his infirmed mother (Kay Hawtrey) have lived in the same Brooklyn neighborhood for a long, long time. They are well liked by their neighbors. Newman doesn't reveal to his neighbors that he's lost his job.
As he's applying for a new job, he again meets up with Gertrude Hart (Laura Dern) who is now in charge of hiring for another company but who was rejected by Newman as an applicant for a secretarial job at Newman's former company. Newman was told not to hire her because his superiors thought she was Jewish. Gertrude and Newman strike up a romance and get married, and continue to live in the same house with his mother.
Before the end of the war, Newman notices the growing anti-semitism in his neighborhood. The residents are all refusing to buy newspapers from the Jewish shop owner (David Paymer) on the corner even though for years he was an accepted member of the community. The storekeep, Finkelstein, is being threatened. About the time the neighbors decide that Newman and Gert are Jews, too, Newman goes to the defense of Finklestein and the neighors go all out to intimidate the Newmans and Finkelstein, even to the point of violence. Newman's neighbor Fred (Meat Loaf Aday) leads the effort to drive out what he feels is not acceptable in the neighborhood.
It's a struggle for survival and dignity in the midst of chaos and prejudice.
Based on a novel by Arthur Miller. Directed by Neal Slavin.
Rated PG-13 for thematic material, violence and some sexual content.
My personal rating: A
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