Movie Review: One of Us

One of Us **** / *****

Directors: Heidi Ewing & Rachel Grady.

 

One of Us is a difficult documentary to sit through, as it details stories that we do not often hear, and when we do, don’t really want to believe that they could happen in 2017, in America. The weakness of the film maybe that it can only tell one side of the story – but that side that we see is more than harrowing enough to be riveting viewing either way. Besides, there was no way that a full portrait could ever really get made.

The film details the story of three young people who grew up in the tight knit Hasidic Jewish community in Brooklyn, who eventually decide that they have to flee – get out, and start their own lives, instead of staying. This is difficult because doing so essentially means you have to leave behind everything you know, everyone you love, and make it on your own – something that your upbringing in that community deliberately does not prepare you for. The film focuses on Ari – who in his late teens, has just left, has drug problems, suffered abuse as a child, that was covered up, and now really has to idea what he’s going to do next. There is also Luzer, who is now in his late 20s, but was a couple years older than Ari when he left – which for him, meant leaving his wife, and two children, behind to move to L.A. and try and become an actor. He cannot even see his children anymore because of his decision. Most harrowing is the story of Elly – who is now in her early 30s, who at the age of 19 was forced into a marriage with an abusive man, and has given birth to seven of his children since. You would think that doing to divorce court in New York would favor her – but it really doesn’t, and she has to accept the reality that even if she is able to leave, her children may not – and she may not see them very much at all, ever again.

 

The film was directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady – two of the best documentarians around, whose best known film, Jesus Camp, is one the doc highlights of the 2000s. That film also detailed an insular religious group – Evangelical Christians – but from the inside. The Evangelicals welcomed the cameras into their midst, and welcomed the opportunity to tell everyone about their beliefs – which is one of the reasons why Jesus Camp works so well – it allows them to expose themselves for who they are. They are not given the same access in One of Us – the Hasidic community is old fashioned and superstitious and are not going to explain themselves to Ewing and Grady. What we do glimpse of them, from the point-of-view or former members, is fascinating in its way. Yes, it’s very sad to see how they behave – but their beliefs are interesting. The community was originally made up of Holocaust survivors, and they see themselves as replacements of those who died – when you look at it that way, it makes sense that they do everything they can to keep everyone in the fold. No, it doesn’t excuse the abuse – or the lengths they go to ostracize and punish those who leave – but it does make it understandable.

 

The whole film had a melancholy tone to it that makes it more difficult to watch then Jesus Camp – which was nothing if not entertaining, even as it was also disturbing. This film is sadder than that, in part, because it doesn’t hold out a lot of hope for the future. This is the way the community is, and almost everyone stays (only 2% leave). You understand why they fight to maintain their way of life, but also cannot help but wonder if it’s worth the cost. This is a fascinating, troubling documentary.