A Life Apart: Hasidism in America

1997

1h 30m

Documentary

List

100%

Tomatometer

6 Reviews

65%

Audience Score

500+ Ratings

Filmmakers Menachem Daum and Oren Rudavsky examine the religion's presence in the United States. Leonard Nimoy and Sarah Jessica Parker narrate.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Jul 21, 2005

Full Review

Carol Cling

Las Vegas Review-Journal

Rated: 4/5

Oct 3, 2003

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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality & Practice

Celebrates the durability of these pious people whose lives are built upon " the worship of the Lord" and the transmission of their values to the next generation.

Mar 2, 2002

Full Review

Julia Levin

Filmcritic.com

Rated: 4.5

Jul 19, 2001

Full Review

Brian Webster

Apollo Guide

Rated: 76/100

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Steve Rhodes

Internet Reviews

This documentary manages to be as happy and funny as the Hasidic Jews themselves. The result is a very convincing film makes you yearn for their simple and contented life.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jan 1, 2000

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Audience Member

I was very taken by this movie and have watched it several times. It is culturally intriguing and is filled with joy.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I mean, the point is really not to make a great film here, lol. It's an interesting and pretty unique look into a closed community, so I would just say, watch it to learn something!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Mild mannered, non judgement about our black coated brethren.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A finely directed and detailed documentary that gives us a great deal of insight into the life of the Hasidic Jew in America. I was deeply moved at the joy that is present in the simple and special way of life for the Hasidic Jew, and admire greatly their ability to adhere to customs and traditions which allow their culture to thrive amongst the spiritual distractions in America. I believe that anyone who respects other cultures and understands the importance of cutural preservation, will be especially rewarded through watching this documentary. 3 1/2 stars

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Audience Member

not enough about Schneerson and 770

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This was a good, but in too many ways superficial, overview of Hasidic life in America, specifically in New York City. Monsey New Jersey is mentioned twice, but not profiled. The fairly significant divisions between some Hasidic groups' beliefs and that of others aren't mentioned at all. The two points that received not even a passing mention, to my great disappointment, were that not all Hasidic Jews are Zionists (by any means!) and that there is, um, a little bit "more" going on with the Lubavitchers and their late Rebbe vs. other Hasidim. A couple of times, for example, Lubavitchers were interviewed with pictures of their Rebbe all over their walls; such a shot was even used to illustrate the point of the close relationship between a Hasidic Jew and his Rebbe, and still no mention at all of the messianic nature of the Chabad relationship with their Rebbe. I was pleased with the woman they selected to briefly discuss leaving the observant community after having been raised in the Hasidic life. She was not an angry, bitter person and did not rage against her former way of life, calling some parts of it "beautiful." That was very nice to see and made her objections to the life more credible. Ultimately, I was happy to to find a documentary about the Hasidim that my partner would even halfway-consent to watch, because these communities interest me, and anything with greater depth would have put him off, but there were very important points about Hasidism that received not even passing mention, which I couldn't forget in evaluating this piece.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

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Menachem Daum

Director

Oren Rudavsky

Director

Leonard Nimoy

Narrator

Sarah Jessica Parker

Narrator

Menachem Daum

Writer

Robert Seidman

Writer

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Synopsis

Filmmakers Menachem Daum and Oren Rudavsky examine the religion's presence in the United States. Leonard Nimoy and Sarah Jessica Parker narrate.

Director: Menachem Daum, Oren Rudavsky
Producer: Arnold Labaton
Screenwriter: Menachem Daum, Robert Seidman
Production Co: Oren Rudavsky Productions
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Box Office (Gross USA): $197.3K
Runtime: 1h 30m
Sound Mix: Stereo

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