I’m not Jewish but I appreciate the sentiment. The asker of the question seeks “the answer” to these most difficult of questions, the rabbi has spent his life struggling, trying to answer these questions. Ultimately, the most sound advice he can offer is “you have to figure it out for yourself”. Which is never satisfying. Still, we all try to relate to each other, we’re all human. This search for “the answer” is what drives us.
"The Red Owl? In Bloomington?" got a big laugh/cheer when I saw an early screening at the Lagoon in Minneapolis that it probably didn't get in other parts of the country. Along with Ron Meshbesher.
Sussman stands under the sign that says “PRODUCE”. Is the rhyme or reason behind the Hebrew on the teeth relevant? The rabbi asks if its relevant. In time Sussman returned to life. There are different levels of awareness and Larry is at the lowest. He need certainly
Deeply enjoy the look of relief on Sussman's face at 4:35 lol. You can tell just talking it out with someone was a big help to him; like yes, finally, someone tells me "who knows - you can safely let this one go if you perform a little charity." Was really all he needed to hear!
Rabbi Nachtner is so typical of the average religion fan. Not seeing how clueless they are themselves from their soapbox ('we can't know everything' 'Hshem doesn't owe us anything") but perfectly trained to turn everything you say so that it serves their 'truth'. Only atheists, agnostics or moderate religious folks can see how they are all the same pond, but people within their own religion are usually clueless in how unoriginal they are, because each school has their own 'monopoly' on the ultimate truths.
The Rabbi has nothing to offer except a cryptic story and a bit of condescension. His life is a sham and he hides it behind cold pointless riddles. The emporor truley has no clothes. He would have been better off going to dvie bar and talking it through with the bartener. Probably would have cost him less too.
@1:30 Sussman's eye viewed thru the magnified lens amplified his suprise and the discord of Hendrix guitar suprises the viewer too. The Coen Brothers are pure Genius.
"What happened to the goy?" "The goy? Who cares?" There's a certain amount of Jewish elitism in that remark. In fact, why was being a gentile an indispensible descriptor of the patient? Because it makes him a clueless vessel in the God of Israel's reaching out to communicate with His chosen People in a supernatural way.
It's Jews making fun of ourselves, silly boy. Cold Europeans don't tend to get our self-deprecating humor at all. Maybe because with you guys (see trump) bombast really matters. We have a high enough view of our Creator that we can mock ourselves and still feel good. You oughta try it. It's fun. EDIT: Are you Turkish?? I've found such cluelessness among Germans and Eastern Europeans. Turks however totally get me and would enjoy the irony of this Jewish self poke. I'm sorry that it seems to have flown over your own head.
Religion is a spiritual path by which one seeks meaning in their life - but this path can become limiting and obsessive, to the point where someone like Dr, Sussman, while seemingly good intentioned, can’t see the most obvious solution - just talk to the goy and ask him about the Hebrew on his teeth. But instead of getting out of his comfort zone and simply communicating with a dude from a different faith, Sussman tries and fails to make sense of it using his own, ultimately moving on with his life and “accepting the mystery” even when there was a simple solution all along. When I first saw this scene, I thought “who cares” at the end was just a funny line poking fun at religious jews for being so insular. Now I think the rabbi was actually being facetious to make an important point. As in, if Larry waited until the very end to even ask about the goy (the most relevant person in the story), then he’s already missed the point - and, like the dentist, would probably be better off moving on with his life.
looking back at it the answer is kinda obviously simple. Larry went to a Rabbi for help, he left with nothing but a senseless story and a passage of Scripture. For some reason, it NEVER crosses Larry’s mind to literally say exactly what he was told here and “Pray to God for help.”
The point of this scene is the inscrutability of Creation, and Gods purpose. That is, Sussman the scientist (and so too the main character ) cannot reduce Creation to a set of data. The scientific method cannot account for Hashem.
I don't know if this is what the Coens intended, but I think the reason I love this film so much - and this scene is a perfect example - is that it shows that the Rabbis and scholars, whose job it is to actually study religious texts and theology, are just as clueless and incapable of providing answers to the questions that people like Larry ask of them. Because despite being more well versed in what the scripture says, at the end of the day they have no way of knowing whether anything that they're saying is true. So they just come up with nonsense narratives like in this scene, while dressing it up as wisdom to save face instead.
I don't think Coen's intended to show rabbis as ignorant. In this particular scene the rabbi gives a message "embrace the mysteries of life and move on" which is one of the main points of the movie
This scene is pure, unadulterated Coen Brothers genius. While A Serious Man isn’t my favorite Coen Bro’s movie (very stressful watch) I think it’s one of their best.
Who cares?
"Culture crash."
Can someone explain the meaning of this whole scene?
“ we can’t know everything” “ it sounds like you don’t know anything!” Powerful stuff
I love that cut at 4:36...same story occurring in a box (his office)...two responses. Is the cat alive or dead?
I’m not Jewish but I appreciate the sentiment. The asker of the question seeks “the answer” to these most difficult of questions, the rabbi has spent his life struggling, trying to answer these questions. Ultimately, the most sound advice he can offer is “you have to figure it out for yourself”. Which is never satisfying. Still, we all try to relate to each other, we’re all human. This search for “the answer” is what drives us.
I still don't get it.
Why didn't he ask the patient how it happened?
Did he have an onion tied to his belt, which was the style at the time?
“Is it… relevant”
What’s going on with Russell Krauss meaning red curly haired?
1:45
The way Sussman shrugs at the answer as if to say "Eh. You're probably right." 😂
They call others "goy" while looking like that?
It's a real master piece the coen brothers nailed the scene,the music the anticipation it's just a whole other level
perfectly filmed. very immersive. perfect choice of music, and a very well narrated monologue.
God is certainly... adversarial.
4:50 how the ending of every Coen brother movie feels
"The Red Owl? In Bloomington?" got a big laugh/cheer when I saw an early screening at the Lagoon in Minneapolis that it probably didn't get in other parts of the country. Along with Ron Meshbesher.
What happened to the goy? Who cares...
This was better than the actual film. Coen is a fucking genius.
Sussman stands under the sign that says “PRODUCE”. Is the rhyme or reason behind the Hebrew on the teeth relevant? The rabbi asks if its relevant. In time Sussman returned to life. There are different levels of awareness and Larry is at the lowest. He need certainly
Deeply enjoy the look of relief on Sussman's face at 4:35 lol. You can tell just talking it out with someone was a big help to him; like yes, finally, someone tells me "who knows - you can safely let this one go if you perform a little charity." Was really all he needed to hear!
I don't even like this movie, but this scene uses Jimi Hendrix's Machine Gun song so well that it has to be mentioned.
"First I should tell you, then I shouldn't."
Rabbi Nachtner is so typical of the average religion fan. Not seeing how clueless they are themselves from their soapbox ('we can't know everything' 'Hshem doesn't owe us anything") but perfectly trained to turn everything you say so that it serves their 'truth'. Only atheists, agnostics or moderate religious folks can see how they are all the same pond, but people within their own religion are usually clueless in how unoriginal they are, because each school has their own 'monopoly' on the ultimate truths.
The Rabbi has nothing to offer except a cryptic story and a bit of condescension. His life is a sham and he hides it behind cold pointless riddles. The emporor truley has no clothes. He would have been better off going to dvie bar and talking it through with the bartener. Probably would have cost him less too.
The Goy? Who cares? 😂😂😂😂
@1:30 Sussman's eye viewed thru the magnified lens amplified his suprise and the discord of Hendrix guitar suprises the viewer too. The Coen Brothers are pure Genius.
Shaggy dog
The Coens wrote a beautiful Koen
"What happened to the goy?" "The goy? Who cares?" There's a certain amount of Jewish elitism in that remark. In fact, why was being a gentile an indispensible descriptor of the patient? Because it makes him a clueless vessel in the God of Israel's reaching out to communicate with His chosen People in a supernatural way.
Read the talmud. It gets much, much worse
@josedorsaith5261 Ohh, it does.
The most revealing part of this scene is the rabbi's response at the end when he asks what happened to the goy.
Krauss was a Nazi prisoner officer and a Jewish dentist engraved that on his teeth.
Seems pretty clear what “help me, save me” means in the mouth of a goy. Too bad these guys couldn’t figure it out.
Terrible scene.
so f'ing amazing
Most rascist scene ever! Imagine it's the opposite and tha actor says like: "He was a Jew. But who cares about Jews?" Yeah, so funny, right!
never name the hats!
It's Jews making fun of ourselves, silly boy. Cold Europeans don't tend to get our self-deprecating humor at all. Maybe because with you guys (see trump) bombast really matters. We have a high enough view of our Creator that we can mock ourselves and still feel good. You oughta try it. It's fun. EDIT: Are you Turkish?? I've found such cluelessness among Germans and Eastern Europeans. Turks however totally get me and would enjoy the irony of this Jewish self poke. I'm sorry that it seems to have flown over your own head.
I like to turn to this particular scene when I’m feelin life is draggin me through the dirt.
‘HE GOES…’ Best line.
It's a yiddish joke. Lol.
Religion is a spiritual path by which one seeks meaning in their life - but this path can become limiting and obsessive, to the point where someone like Dr, Sussman, while seemingly good intentioned, can’t see the most obvious solution - just talk to the goy and ask him about the Hebrew on his teeth. But instead of getting out of his comfort zone and simply communicating with a dude from a different faith, Sussman tries and fails to make sense of it using his own, ultimately moving on with his life and “accepting the mystery” even when there was a simple solution all along. When I first saw this scene, I thought “who cares” at the end was just a funny line poking fun at religious jews for being so insular. Now I think the rabbi was actually being facetious to make an important point. As in, if Larry waited until the very end to even ask about the goy (the most relevant person in the story), then he’s already missed the point - and, like the dentist, would probably be better off moving on with his life.
What movie is this?
A serious man.
@@freshtoast3879 What’s the movie about?
@@josecarranza7555 go read about it
looking back at it the answer is kinda obviously simple. Larry went to a Rabbi for help, he left with nothing but a senseless story and a passage of Scripture. For some reason, it NEVER crosses Larry’s mind to literally say exactly what he was told here and “Pray to God for help.”
The point of this scene is the inscrutability of Creation, and Gods purpose. That is, Sussman the scientist (and so too the main character ) cannot reduce Creation to a set of data. The scientific method cannot account for Hashem.
Nachter aint have the Answers
The only thing the Red Owl employee visibly says is "Who?"
First I should tell you, and then i shouldn't 😅
I don't know if this is what the Coens intended, but I think the reason I love this film so much - and this scene is a perfect example - is that it shows that the Rabbis and scholars, whose job it is to actually study religious texts and theology, are just as clueless and incapable of providing answers to the questions that people like Larry ask of them. Because despite being more well versed in what the scripture says, at the end of the day they have no way of knowing whether anything that they're saying is true. So they just come up with nonsense narratives like in this scene, while dressing it up as wisdom to save face instead.
I don't think Coen's intended to show rabbis as ignorant. In this particular scene the rabbi gives a message "embrace the mysteries of life and move on" which is one of the main points of the movie
This scene is pure, unadulterated Coen Brothers genius. While A Serious Man isn’t my favorite Coen Bro’s movie (very stressful watch) I think it’s one of their best.