A Price Above Rubies (1998)

Director:

Boaz Yakin

Writer (WGA):

Boaz Yakin (written by)

Release Date:

25 March 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

In a world of rules... one woman is ruled by her passion.

Plot:

About a young woman who is married to a devout Jew and the problems that trouble their marriage because...

Plot Keywords:

Hasidim | Orthodox Jew | Rabbi | Sculptor | Adultery

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Renée Zellweger	...	Sonia Horowitz
Christopher Eccleston	...	Sender Horowitz
Julianna Margulies	...	Rachel
Allen Payne	...	Ramon Garcia
Glenn Fitzgerald	...	Mendel Horowitz
Kim Hunter	...	Rebbitzn
John Randolph	...	Rebbe Moshe
Kathleen Chalfant	...	Beggar Woman
Peter Jacobson	...	Schnuel
Edie Falco	...	Feiga
Timothy Jerome	...	Dr. Bauer (as Tim Jerome)
Phyllis Newman	...	Mrs. Gelbart
Joyce Reehling	...	Shaindy
Shelton Dane	...	Yossi
Jackie Ryan	...	Young Sonia

Also Known As:

A Price Below Rubies (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality and brief language.

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Iceland:L | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | France:U | USA:R | Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Channel Four Films

Trivia:

Mendel says Sonia's birthstone is the ruby, this would make her birthdate somewhere in July.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): After the bris (circumcision ceremony), Mendel apologizes to Sonia for naming their son Shimmie "after the Rebbe." Shimmie is a nickname for Shim'on (Simon). However, the Rebbetzin (the Rebbe's wife) calls her husband Moishe. Also, at the eulogy for the Rebbe, the speaker refers to the him as "our own Moishe Rabbenu," clearly making a connection between him (and his name) and the prophet Moses.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Late Night with Conan O'Brien: The White Stripes (#17.30)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Yo Siempre Oddara

Intriguing Personal Drama Set in Orthodox/American Jewish Culture

A carefully and compellingly rendered drama of a contemporary woman's stirring discovery of self, "A Price Above Rubies" is set in the context of a Hasidic Jewish/American community. Beautifully photographed, this film's acting sparkles -- and renders a reasonably accurate portrait of an easily caricatured community.

In a role played well before her current celebrity (circa Jerry Maguire), Renee Zellweger establishes herself as a talent of unlimited possibilities. That she doesn't "look Jewish" (by the stereotype) does not make her less convincing....

The film's feminist perspective is gracefully realized without belittling all guys -- which greatly enhances the film's power! (And lowers my blood pressure!) While compelling in the early going, the plot becomes a bit overly complex. But the film remains very well worth watching throughout. Production design is exceptional! Those Orthodox Jewish critics who are angered by this film's portrayal of Jewish Orthodoxy might have us believe that the world of Orthodoxy is monolithically benign. It is not. ...

Traditional thought and practice -- orthodoxy in many settings -- has its beauties and strengths, and -- like most things human-- it has its dark, shadow side as well. I've personally experienced both the light and the dark, and know they both exist. "A Price Above Rubies" depicts the delicate balance gone awry.

For a very different, also wonderful film which depicts both light and shadow sides of American Jewish traditionalism, but less critical of Orthodoxy, try "The Chosen" (1982) (adapted from Chaim Potok's book), with Robby Benson (quite good in this film, to my surprise), Rod Steiger and Maximillian Schell. For me "The Chosen" is a "ten", and among my all-time top 10 films!