[Review: Film] The Believer

[Hanohtep]

The Believer (Henry Bean, 2001)

The tale of a young Jewish man living in New York who develops a fiercely anti-Semitic world view. He joins a neo-fascist organisation and develops strong ties to Nazi ideology and imagery.

The film switched between the world of Danny Balint today and flashbacks to his school days. Throughout the film you are presented with a young man/boy who has a strong understanding of his faith and believes it to be superior to that of his religious peers. He believes that his understanding of the Jewish religion trascends that of other Jews and as such he is morally superior. As a result he develops a violent loathing for the Jewish people and embraces Nazi ideology.

The film is presented as an emotional struggle for Danny as he is torn between his loyalty to his Jewish heritage and his longing to kill Jews as part of his Nazi identity. A well made film that should be seen.