Oh, the Coen brothers. Where do I start?
If you’ve heard anything about their new film, A Serious Man, you may have heard the comparisons to the story of Job. (The guy in the bible.) That’s certainly a good starting place, but I think it’s best to use that story as an influence, and consider the characters to be completely independent.
The film opens with a sort-of flashback, to olden times. A seemingly harmless old man comes in out of the snow for some soup and to sit by the fire, and to chat with a younger man he helped earlier in the day. The younger man’s wife immediately declares the old man to be a demon – because she’s sure this old man died some time ago. The younger man openly accepts the living man he sees in front of him, while the wife clings to her beliefs, and stabs the old man. As the old man excuses himself, believing it must be rude to bleed on someone’s floor, and wanders out the door, the younger man is sure his life is ruined by the act. The wife is certain she’s avoided doom.
Our main character, Larry Gopnik, is a math professor for a Hebrew school in suburban 60s Illinois. And he seems to have the task of using extraordinarily complex mathematical equations to explain similarly complex theories. These equations make perfect sense to Larry, and explain the unexplainable. But to his students, they might as well be gibberish. Larry may understand his craft, but he has no idea how to convey its significance to his class. Perhaps, he seems to imply, they should just accept what he’s saying as fact, and move on. It’s much too difficult to comprehend – and it’s best to just take it as it appears.
The story begins as Larry is confronted with difficult life decisions: Should he allow his brother to live on the couch and monopolize the family’s bathroom? What should he do with a supposed bribe from a student? His wife wants to divorce him to marry a family friend. His financial troubles mount. His neighbor is encroaching on his lawn. His neighbor sunbathes nude. He’s being considered for tenure. Larry is at that crossroads in life. And he seeks help from his faith.
When a man is faced with temptation, and is tested, possibly by higher powers, faith can provide guidance. But a man’s decision is his own, and he must decide what to do with the advice he may be given. Take Larry’s brother, Arthur. Arthur leeches off of the family while he comes up with a formula to win at gambling. But it only lands him in trouble with the police. Later, Arthur breaks down, and curses God for not rewarding him with the things Larry’s received. And, at that point, you might think Larry would realize what he does have, instead of bemoaning what he’s lost. Or, rather, you’d think Larry would finally wake up, and begin to act, instead of falling further. He looks to his rabbis for solutions. The first is young and inexperienced, and offers absolutely no help. The second relates a seemingly helpful story, but can’t explain it’s true meaning. The final rabbi, whom everyone in town agrees is wise, refuses to see Larry. Larry begins to fall apart at this rejection, and the viewer might assume that the wise rabbi sees that Larry is beyond his help. Maybe, like us, he’s hoping that Larry will start to work against the forces pushing him down.
Instead, Larry continually cries, “I didn’t do anything!”.
And, he’s right.
Rating: 
