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
Faran Tahir	...	Hrundi Kapoor
Martin Shakar	...	Mr. Berman
Teodorina Bello	...	Mrs. Garcia
Glenn Fleshler	...	Chief Gabbai
Adam Dannheisser	...	Young Gabbai #1
Stephen Singer	...	Gabbai #2
Marvin Einhorn	...	Gabbai #3
Mark Zimmerman	...	Doctor
Richard Lifschutz	...	The Moel (as Richard 'Izzy' Lifschutz)
David Deblinger	...	Baruch
Sam Jennings	...	Heshie
Erin Rakow	...	Tsipi
Asher Tabak	...	Yechiel
Allen Swift	...	Mr. Fishbein
Daryl Edwards	...	Nelson
Peter Marx	...	Mr. Sugarman (as Peter Slutsker)
Lauren Klein	...	Sonia's Mother
Tonye Patano	...	Earring Woman
Don Wallace	...	Ty
Asia Minor	...	Homegirl
Rosanna Plasencia	...	Homegirl #2
Jerry Matz	...	Mr. Engelberg
Michael Stuhlbarg	...	Young Hassid
Karen Contreras	...	Young Woman
Wai Ching Ho	...	Lady Vendor
Mel Duane Gionson	...	Paranoid Vendor
Paul J.Q. Lee	...	Smooth Vendor
Leyla Aalam	...	Israeli Woman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Evermore Black	...	(uncredited)
Bill Cook	...	Hasidic man (uncredited)
Alex Kalognomos	...	Gabi Bodyguard (uncredited)
Scott Roman	...	Witness (uncredited)
Marc Sebastian	...	Chasid (uncredited)
Nick Stellate	...	Hasidic Bodyguard (uncredited)

Directed by
Boaz Yakin

Writing credits (WGA)
Boaz Yakin		(written by)

Produced by
Lawrence Bender	....	producer
Adam Brightman	....	line producer
JoAnn Fregalette Jansen	....	co-producer (as Joann Fregalette Jansen)
John Penotti	....	producer
Bob Weinstein	....	executive producer
Harvey Weinstein	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Lesley Barber

Cinematography by
Adam Holender

Film Editing by
Arthur Coburn

Casting by
Douglas Aibel

Production Design by
Dan Leigh

Set Decoration by
Leslie E. Rollins

Costume Design by
Ellen Lutter

Makeup Department
Wayne Herndon	....	key hair stylist
Lori Hicks	....	key makeup artist
John Quaglia	....	key hair stylist (as John D. Quaglia)

Production Management
Heidi Vogel	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Rick Lange	....	second second assistant director
Marco Londoner	....	second assistant director
David 'Wex' Wechsler	....	first assistant director (as David Wechsler)

Art Department
Peter Betulia	....	construction key grip (as Peter Anthony Betulia)
John Billeci	....	shop electrician
Dennis Causey	....	set dresser (as Dennis Lee Causey)
Rodney Clark	....	carpenter
Robert A. Conroy	....	construction grip
James Curry	....	carpenter (as James J. Curry)
Chris DeTitta	....	lead man (as Christopher J. Detitta)
Cyd Fenwick	....	scenic artist
Rossana Fiore	....	camera scenic artist
John J. Flugel	....	set dresser
Laura G. Gillen	....	scenic artist
Elizabeth Goodall	....	scenic artist
Anne Beiser Haywood	....	charge scenic artist (as Ann Haywood)
Brent Haywood	....	construction coordinator
Eryka Seimona Henderson	....	art department facilitator
Elaine Housman	....	sculptor
Duncan Hoxworth	....	stand-by carpenter
Tyler Kim	....	assistant property master (as Tyler H. Kim)
Julius Kozlowski	....	scenic artist
Kevin Ladson	....	property master (as Kevin C. Ladson)
Ulf Lovén	....	carpenter (as Ulf Loven)
Salvatore Sirico	....	carpenter
William J. Stabile	....	draftsperson (as William Stabile)
Kenneth Stopsky	....	construction foreman
Mitch Towse	....	set dresser
Gary Wimmer	....	scenic artist

Sound Department
Pembrooke Andrews	....	dialogue assistant
John Chandler	....	foley editor
Paul Curtis	....	dialogue editor
Robert Fitzgerald	....	sound effects editor
Robert Fitzgerald	....	supervising sound editor
Elisabeth Flaum	....	sound effects editor
Shawn Kennelly	....	dialogue assistant (as Sean Kenelly)
Alan Kerr	....	foley artist
George Leong	....	boom operator
Jason Lezama	....	adr recordist
Jason Lezama	....	foley editor
Richard Murphy	....	second boom operator
Tim Rakoczy	....	assistant sound editor
Sergio Reyes	....	sound re-recording mixer
Joan Rowe	....	foley artist
Katie Rowe	....	foley artist
Sean Rowe	....	foley artist
William Sarokin	....	sound mixer
B. Tennyson Sebastian III	....	sound re-recording mixer
Frederick H. Stahly	....	adr editor
Frederick H. Stahly	....	dialogue editor
John C. Stuver	....	adr editor (as Stuv)
John C. Stuver	....	dialogue editor (as Stuv)
Eric Thompson	....	foley mixer
Jeff Vaughn	....	adr mixer

Special Effects by
John Ottesen	....	special effects coordinator (as John M. Ottesen)

Visual Effects by
Randall Balsmeyer	....	visual effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael J. Betzag	....	best boy grip (as Michael Betzag)
John Cambria	....	first assistant camera
Michael Cambria	....	second assistant camera
Andrew Casey	....	Steadicam operator
Damien F. Donohue	....	company grip
Joe Donohue III	....	company grip (as Joseph Donohue III)
John Donohue	....	dolly grip
Abbot Genser	....	still photographer
Shaun Gilbert	....	electrician (as Shaun C. Gilbert)
Chris Hayes	....	camera operator
Michael 'Flash' McDonald	....	electrician (as Michael McDonald)
Billy Miller	....	key grip (as William A. Miller)
Rocco Palmieri	....	electrician
Linda Phillips	....	electrician
Francis A. Porter	....	camera trainee
Scott H. Ramsey	....	gaffer
Mike Reed	....	electrician (as Michael Reed)
Mark Schwentner	....	best boy electric
Christopher Vaccaro	....	company grip
Craig Vaccaro	....	key rigging grip
Nicky 'Nuckles' Vaccaro	....	company grip

Casting Department
Peggy Adler	....	casting associate
Jordan Beswick	....	casting associate
Dena Trakes	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Barbara Krauthamer	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Barbara Krauthamer)
Sally Lesser	....	costume shopper
Winsome G. McKoy	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Gregg Apirian	....	second assistant editor
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Tracey D'Arcy	....	post-production coordinator
Blake Maniquis	....	assistant editor: Los Angeles
Anne McCabe	....	assistant editor: New York
Ricardo Olivero	....	color timer
Anil Urmil	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Lesley Barber	....	orchestrator
Stuart Brawley	....	music engineer
Dan DiPrima	....	music editor (as Dan Diprima)
Ken Kugler	....	conductor
David Low	....	music contractor
Paul Hepker	....	additional orchestrator (uncredited)
Denise Okimoto	....	music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
William Baker	....	driver: props
Rich Battista	....	driver: grip (as Richard Battista)
Kerry Clark	....	parking coordinator
Dennis Drogan	....	driver: maxi van (as Ronald Dennis Drogan)
Robert Dwyer	....	driver: camera
Leo Fotopoulos	....	driver: honeywagon
Kevin Griffin	....	driver: swing (as Kevin P. Griffin)
Robert Lansing	....	driver: electric
John Leonidas	....	transportation captain
Dennis Radesky	....	transportation co-captain
Luis Rodriguez	....	driver: wardrobe
Barry Sweeney	....	driver: set dressing

Other crew
Alexander Berberich	....	location assistant
Jerome Best	....	adr voice
Tom Betterton	....	location scout
Corey Bobker	....	production assistant
Seth Burch	....	location manager
Hunter Carson	....	set production assistant
Jake Chipps	....	adr voice
Jason Cramer	....	post-production accountant
Denise T. Davidson	....	assistant: Ellen Cutter
Pete Dominick	....	set production assistant
Maureen Duffy	....	completion bond
Ann Du Val	....	legal
Joe Facey	....	craft service
John B. Finn	....	payroll accountant
Mary Gambardella	....	script supervisor
Ellen Gannon	....	production coordinator
Joyce Goldman	....	adr voice
Henry Goldscher	....	adr voice
Carlos K. Goodman	....	legal services (as Carlos Goodman)
Alicia Haldenwang	....	production assistant
Marlus Harding	....	assistant accountant (as Marlus C. Harding)
Kali Harrison	....	set production assistant (as Kali Rashad Harrison)
Janet Henry	....	location assistant
Eddi Herschler	....	adr voice (as Eddie Herschler)
Bernie Hiller	....	adr voice (as Bernard Hiller)
Winnie Hiller	....	adr voice
Rob Ludwig	....	Ramon's studio consultant (as Robin David Ludwig)
Lev Mailer	....	adr voice
Jabbar E. McDonald	....	location assistant
Courtney McDonnell	....	assistant: Lawrence Bender
Margo Myers	....	production accountant (as Margo A. Myers)
Neil Orlowski	....	key set production assistant
Deborah Owen	....	post-production accountant
Dan Perri	....	producer: title sequence
Dan Perri	....	title designer
Tom Piechura	....	unit publicist
Jay Richard Piro	....	set production assistant
Jess Platt	....	dialect consultant
Jeremy D. Pratt	....	stage manager
Sally Rainer	....	adr voice
Gary Scott	....	assistant location manager
Burton Sharp	....	adr group coordinator
Burton Sharp	....	adr voice
Jamie Sheridan	....	set production assistant (as James E. Sheridan)
Jeff Springer	....	legal
Bill Stern	....	adr voice
Anita Sum	....	production associate
Jeff Swafford	....	assistant: Lawrence Bender
Glen-Bob Sweet	....	adr voice
Shane Sweet	....	adr voice
Ruthie Tanami	....	product placement
Andrew Vogliano	....	production secretary
Henry Winston	....	post-production accountant
Kurt Woolner	....	completion bond
Yogi	....	parking production assistant
Jennifer Yun	....	assistant: John Penotti
Joseph Zolfo	....	assistant location manager
Eli Roth	....	stand-in (uncredited)

Thanks
Lt. Joseph Byrne	....	special thanks
John Carrabino	....	special thanks
Lisa Davidowitz	....	special thanks
John Diemer	....	special thanks
Kevin Doyle	....	special thanks
Scott Fleischer	....	special thanks
Kim Green	....	special thanks
Alice Hughes	....	special thanks
Julie Kirkham	....	special thanks
Barbara Koplin	....	special thanks
Stephen Koplin	....	special thanks
Jack Lechner	....	special thanks
Matt Loeb	....	special thanks
Tory Metzger	....	special thanks
Tom O'Donnell	....	special thanks
Nicole Pennington	....	special thanks
Elyse Scherz	....	special thanks
Pat Scott	....	special thanks (as Patricia Reed Scott)
Eric Shonz	....	special thanks
Mike Simpson	....	special thanks
Nick Stevens	....	special thanks
Lee Stollman	....	special thanks
Jessica Tuchinsky	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Channel Four Films
• GreeneStreet Films
• Lawrence Bender Productions
• Miramax Films
• Pandora Cinema

Distributors

• Advanced (Germany)
• CCI (France)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (VHS)
• Eurozoom (France)
• LK-TEL (1999) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Miramax Films
• SF Video (1999) (Sweden) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Amy S. Fine Jewelry, New York  Chinatown jewelry courtesy of
• Antonucci Catering  location caterer
• Axium Entertainment Group  payroll
• Balsmeyer and Everett  opticals
• Cinema Research  titles
• Creative Cafe  digital re-recording by
• EFX Systems  digital sound services by
• Film Finances  completion bond
• Grant Wilfley Casting  extras casting
• Great Northern/Reiff & Associates  insurance
• Jo Anne Kane Music Services  music copyist
• Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler & Goodman  legal
• Magno Sound and Video  production sound transfers by
• Marshall/Plumb Research Associates  script research
• Mimi So Diamonds Inc. NY, NY  diamond courtesy of
• Owen & DeSalvo Company  post-production accounting
• Pacific Title  opticals
• Panavision New Zealand  camera equipment provided by
• RCA Victor  soundtrack
• Something's Cooking  stage caterer
• The Rockport Company Inc.  footwear provided by

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!