The Believer (2001)

[Quorthon]

The Believer
Drama
2001
Color
Umvd/Visual Entertainment
MPAA Rating: R
Directed by: Henry Bean
USA

Like “Romper Stomper” and the intensely powerful “American History X,” here we have another brilliant film which revolves around National Socialism and the fiercely racist ideals behind it. This movie, however, varies strongly from the two previously mentioned in that it seems to have been researched far more heavily, and, focuses on not a general Neo-Nazi or skinhead, but on a young Jewish man—who has turned to Neo-Nazis and fascism for strength.

This film revolves around a young man who was born and raised into Judaism only to become heavily fed up with the styles, rules, rituals, and apparent hypocrisies therein. Ever since his youth he’d been questioning the Jewish faith and the very meaning of being Jewish. The film follows him as he struggles with the faith he was raised with and the Nazi ideals he adopts against it. Through it all, he also struggles with his own identity and the hypnotic way that these two opposing ideologies have power over people. On top of that, he’s later recruited by a group of neo-fascists, so to speak, looking to make fascism a reputable political movement, much like Communism has evolved into Democratic societies these days as Socialism.

Here’s the breakdown:

The Good:
--The acting, for the most part is excellent.
--The amount of information about both Nazism and Judaism is staggeringly well researched. At least, that’s how it seems.
--Nice cinematography and atmosphere.
--Interesting story.

Didn’t Hurt It, Didn’t Help:
--Decent music.
--This film focuses very little time on “Neo-Nazis versus everybody;” it’s more about Nazism and Judaism butting heads.

The Bad:
--Often times with movies of this nature, Nazi Movies, there is strong violence used in part to hammer home the intensity of the subject matter. This film focuses on the ideologies more than the violence and as such, actually doesn’t feel as powerful as, say, “American History X.”
--During flashback sequences where we see the main character in his youth in school, the kid playing the part isn’t exactly a great actor.
--Somewhat predictable ending.

The Ugly:
--With the ideologies, stories, and characters—there’s an awful lot going on in this film. Unfortunately, when the movie ends, if feels like there was a lot left unanswered, or simply, not fully explored.

Memorable Scene:
--There were actually quite a few. For me, it was the first several times we get to know the girl who becomes the main character’s love interest—and all the ways it seems she’s just not right in the head.


Acting: 8/10
Story: 9/10
Atmosphere: 7/10
Cinematography: 8/10
Character Development: 9/10
Special Effects/Make-up: 0/10 (Movie didn’t require any)
Nudity/Sexuality: 3/10
Violence/Gore: 6/10 (Not as much violence as is common in films of this type)
Dialogue: 9/10 (Some brilliant conversations and ideas throughout)
Music: 7/10
Direction: 8/10

Cheesiness: 1/10
Crappiness: 0/10

Overall: 9/10

Be prepared to stomach a lot of harsh words and racism, but this is an intense film with a lot going on. Another one recommended to those with an interest in National Socialism, Judaism and their histories and ideologies. Full-fledged Nazis, ironically, will not like many of the directions this movie takes, and neither might serious Jews—the views expressed in this film are that strong.

[Bartwald]

So it's better than Romper Stomper but not as good as American History X (which I, too, liked a lot)? I must admit that although I heard a lot about this film it never appealed to me all that much. It seems, though, that the lack of violence doesn't equal lack of guts in this case?

[Quorthon]

This film pushed some ideals and boundries that I didn't imagine it would touch upon. It had a lot more depth to it when examining the two fiercely different ideologies than Romper Stomper and a bit more than American History X, but hits--and I didn't touch on this in my review--pretty hard emotionally.

Also, I found out that it was inspired by a true story of a KKK member found out to be of Jewish descent. I definitly recommend this one together with American History X. I've read about Nazi ideals and been around people that believe that shit like it's the word of God, and both of these movies together show in a real sense, how the beliefs for which they stand so easily draw people in. Especially in modern America--white men are always called the Majority, but we're just another minority--the only difference is that we're the only minority that receives no special privaleges or free help from the Government. If the country's a mess, we're the first to be blamed, and racism is tolerated (and even loved) when it's being spouted by anyone that's not a white male. Both of these movies look at that part of our culture as it just seems to gradually worsen--but Believer also takes an extra step to show the inherit problems with Judaism which casts a negative shadow over those beliefs and the people who believe in them.

I almost should re-write this and stuff it up in with my review. But then I might give away too much. There is violence, but no where near the level of American History X and especially Romper Stomper.