Holocaust. The forced detention by the
United States of loyal Japanese-
American citizens. The mass arrests and
detention of Palestinians by Israeli
troops on the West Bank. Ethnic cleans-
ing by the Serbian murderer Milosevic.
But let's not forget the disturbing
image of young Arab Americans
hurtling rocks and bottles at American
tanks in a scene straight out of the
intifada.
While pre-release protests by Arab-
American groups have focused media
attention upon the perceived depiction
of Arabs in this film, The Siege is far
from being tarnished by an anti-Arab
bias.
True, the terrorists who unleash
unspeakable carnage upon New York
City and its innocent populace are Arab
radicals, but there also are more than a
few highly unflattering implied refer-
ences to Israel and its occupation of the
territories sprinkled liberally throughout
the movie.
Furthermore, the film clearly disasso-
ciates its fictional terrorists from those of
Hamas by a hoary literary trick — using
a throw-away reference to the real
Hamas as raising too much money in
New York to jeopardize its activities by
resorting to terrorism.
Surprisingly, Jews play a rather limit-
ed role in the film. The few Jewish char-
acters in the story have relatively minor
roles — even though the film is set in a
city with a very large Jewish population.
Events in Israel are not a precipitating
factor as the action unfolds.
The story, though, is laced with
The Big Chill is sched-
uled to open Nov. 6 at
Landmark's Main Art
Theatre. Check your local
movie listings or call the
box office, (248) 542-0180.
Norman
MacLeish
moral issues and historical frames of ref-
erence, many of which are clearly rele-
vant to Jews.
And the film admirably portrays Jews
as being foremost in protesting the
forced detainment of Arab-Americans,
marching side-by-side in solidarity with
them.
I would like to believe that would
really happen if ever it became necessary.
But the movie decides to treat it other-
wise. The march across the Brooklyn
Bridge is slated to become the final
denouement, the annihilation by bomb
of those who support the very cause of
the Arab terrorists.
Is this all starting to sound too mud-
dled for most movie fans? More byzan-
tine than you want for your six or seven
bucks? Then just sit back and accept this
movie on the level of a fast-paced action
picture, complete with just a little too
much one-dimensional cardboardish
acting by Washington and Willis.
The Siege works remarkably well on
that level. And certainly, had I been pay-
ing less attention to all the confusing
and conflicting moral issues, I wouldn't
have been so surprised at the ending.
So I'll wrestle with my conscience
and err on the side of entertainment.
This one gets 3 1/2 stars — and
deserves every one of them. ❑
Rated R. x:xx:lx) 1/2
(1890-1975)
watercolors from the 1930's and 40's
November 7 — 28, 1998
David Klein Gallery
163 TOWNSEND BIRMINGHAM MI 48009
TELEPHONE 248.433.3700 FAX 248.433.3702
HOURS: MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY 11 - 5:30
adel De#
'CM' Out
The Big Chill, a film of the baby-boom
generation with a Michigan connection,
celebrates its 15th anniversary with •
reopenings in selected markets across the
countrron Nov. 6. Locally, Landmark's
Featuring
DELIVERY
AVAILABLE
ROSE GUTTM ► N'S
OUR
-
-
"1 r
DAIRY
AND
TRAYS 1
I
INCLUDING
I ROSE'S HOMEMADE I
SOUR CREAM mini CAKE
10 Person Minimum
WITH COUPON ONLY
Expires I 1-12-98
THE PLACE FOR SMOKED FISH
& HANDCUT BELLY LOX
6088 W. MAPLE
AT FARMINGTON RD.
West Bloomfield
— FREE!!
BUY I LB. OR MORE I
I OF ROSE'S HOMEMADE I
I SPECIALLY-PREPARED
DELI I
I
I
EAT IN OR
CARRY OUT
TRADITIONAL JEWISH HOME COOKING!
ROAST BEEF
BRISKET
AND GET II2 UL OF
OM-ROASTED
I
TURKEY BREAST I
FREE??
I WITH COUPON ONLY • I COUPON PER PERSON I
J
—IL— Expires I 1 - 1 2-98
WE FEATURE ROSE'S HOMEMADE PICKLED
TROUT, GEFILTE FISH & CABBAGE SOUP
(248) 851-9666
FAX:
(248) 8514698
Glenn Close, Kevin Kline, Meg Tilly, William Hurt, Tom Berenger, Mary Kay Place, Jeff
Goldblum and Jobeth Williams star in "The Big Chill."
11/6
1998
Detroit -Jewish News
101