BEYOND THE MULTIPLEX
From Aug ’07 Spotlight: Adventurous film lovers can find a wealth of buried treasures this month.
First up is The Treatment, a new romantic comedy by Oren Rudavsky.
Rudavsky is best known for the two superlative documentaries he made with Menachem Daum: A Life Apart: Hasidism in America (1997), and Hiding and Seeking: Faith and Tolerance after the Holocaust (2004). So this is quite a stretch.
For his first narrative feature, Rudavsky has adapted Daniel Menaker’s novel about a 30something Manhattan man enduring the rigors of psychoanalysis. But not to worry: in the opening montage, an animated couch lifts off in Vienna and keeps heading west until it lands in Central Park! So suffice it to say, The Treatment had me at hello 🙂
The name of the main character is “Jake Singer,” so I asked Rudavsky if he was supposed to be related to “Alvy Singer,” the alter ego Woody Allen created for himself in his OScar-winning film Annie Hall. Rudavsky just laughed: “You’re not the first person to ask me this.”
Even though actor Chris Eigeman doesn’t “look Jewish,” his mannerisms certainly do, and Menaker’s “Jake” is clearly identified as a member of the mishpokhe in print.
On the other hand, there’s no mistaking Adam Goldberg aka The Hebrew Hammer, “the Jewish guy” on the Saving Private Ryan team…. in Julie Delpy’s new film 2 Days in Paris… And on the heavy side, keep watch for Day Night Day Night…
The Treatment opens 6/29/07 at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema in Lincoln Park.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Above: Chris Eigeman as “Jake Singer” in his classroom.
Photo Credit: Macall B. Polay
