The Devil's Arithmetic

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Linda J I have seen this movie three times, and it is mesmerizing. Kirsten Dunst did a fine job, as did the entire cast of well fleshed out characters, but the late Brittany Murphy was the real star. Her performance as Rivkah was, well, riveting. Brittany was actually half Jewish, and she married her Jewish husband Simon in a Jewish ceremony several years after making The Devils Arithmetic. I think she identified with Rivkah's Jewishness. Her Polish accent was impeccable, her acting was flawless, and the movie is worth watching because Brittany was there. It was her greatest role, in my opinion, and sadly ignored. (I am a fan, and have seen all her work.) I encourage you to watch this film, but be prepared to be horrified, yet again, by the horrors of the Holocaust. The presence of Louise Fletcher and the cast of the modern Jewish American family does balance the horrors with hope. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/29/24 Full Review Rick M Very dark but very powerful depiction of the holocaust at a personal level. Never forget !!!!!!!!!!!! May the nazis burn in hell forever. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/03/24 Full Review Audience Member Terrible made-for-TV movie that does a terrible job showing the events of the Holocaust. Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 11/07/21 Full Review Audience Member No one in this movie can act convincingly enough. I felt more than in Sophie's Choice though. But not enough to recommend it without tainting my reputation. Like Germans speaking English just takes you out of the flow. It started off good though. Like I hated her at the beginning all set for a redemption story as intended. But the cutting all their hair half ass as if they actually were at a professional hair dresser. The way she petted the ground with the pickaxe. They got blankets to go outside so they don't feel cold. The jews can just talk back without being shot right at the spot. The officer lets himself get spit in the face and gives him a rather quick death. And at the end, the aunt is super chill and Hannah shows no signs of being traumatized or going crazy after that experience. Just not at all convincing, I'm sorry. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member Very accurate portrayal of the Holocaust. Historically informative with great acting! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Audience Member Director: Donna Deitch Writers: Jane Yolen (novel), Robert J. Avrech (teleplay) Stars: Kirsten Dunst, Brittany Murphy, Paul Freeman Hannah Stern (Kirsten Dunst), an American-born Jewish adolescent, is uninterested in the culture, faith and customs of her relatives; however, Hannah begins to reevaluate her heritage when she has a supernatural experience that transports her back to a Nazi death camp in 1941. There, she meets a young girl named Rivkah (Brittany Murphy), a fellow captive in the camp. As Rivkah and Hannah struggle to survive in the face of daily atrocities, they form an unbreakable bond. Overall, the films art direction, cinematography and story line remained consistently good throughout the film. Excellent acting and no glossing over what happened in the camps. Of the many holocaust-related movies, this film is unique in its transportation of a modern girl into 1940s Poland. It is very well done, contrasting the frivolous modern lifestyle with the hardships of the 1940s. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Devil's Arithmetic

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