The Believer: Confronting Jewish Self-Hatred

by Henry Bean

The Believer relates the disturbing and provocative story of a Jewish skinhead from Brooklyn. Screenwriter Henry Bean (Internal Affairs, Deep Cover) was inspired by an actual case to write an original script exploring issues close to his own Orthodox Judaism -- and then to direct what became the winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. Everywhere The Believer has been shown it has provoked passionate debate about fundamental assumptions of faith, belief, and ethnic identity. The Confronting Jewish Self-Hatred is intended to provide a context for the discussion sparked by this controversial film. In addition to the script with an explanatory essay by the filmmaker, The Believer will include additional essays on related topics from such authorities as Cornell Professor Sander Gilman (Anti-Semitism in Times of Crisis), Northwestern Professor Lester Friedman (The Jewish Image in American Film), and Professor of the Talmud and Rabbinics at Jewish Theological Seminary David Kraemer. The Believer will feature the script of the award-winning film and also be punctuated by shorter "reactions" to the film and its topic solicited from pivotal opinion-makers. "Henry Bean is a big talent and The Believer is his most courageous and thought-provoking work yet!" -- Spike Lee

Genres: Nonfiction, Film

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 9, 2002

Reviews

[Cliff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great movie. One of the best of the past decade IMHO. Book accompaniment is kind of surprising, given the fact nobody has seen the movie.

Anyhow, the script is still great, the articles and essays on the topic and movie are so so.

Basically, if you are a huge fan of the movie, worth it, not if you aren't.