Enemies: A Love Story (1989)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Paul Mazursky

Writers (WGA):

Isaac Bashevis Singer (novel)
Roger L. Simon (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

13 December 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot:

Set in 1949 New York, a Holocaust survivor (Ron Silver) who makes a living as a ghostwriter for a Jewish rabbi...

Plot Keywords:

Holocaust Survivor | Marriage | Lost Wife | Polygamy | Infidelity

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Ron Silver	...	Herman Broder
Anjelica Huston	...	Tamara Broder
Lena Olin	...	Masha
Malgorzata Zajaczkowska	...	Yadwiga (as Margaret Sophie Stein)
Alan King	...	Rabbi Lembeck
Judith Malina	...	Masha's Mother
Rita Karin	...	Mrs. Schreier
Phil Leeds	...	Pesheles
Elya Baskin	...	Yasha Kobik
Paul Mazursky	...	Leon Tortshiner
L.J. Dollinger	...	Reb Nissen Yaroslaver
Zypora Spaisman	...	Sheva Haddas
Arthur Grosser	...	Doctor
Burney Lieberman	...	Yom Kippur Cantor
Nathaniel Katzman	...	Wedding Cantor

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Singapore:PG (cut) | South Korea:18 | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Morgan Creek Productions

Quotes:

Tamara: The truth is, I have no claim on him. He probably always loved you. I'm, I'm sure he slept with you before me.
Yadwiga: Oh, no! I was an innocent girl! I came to him a virgin.
Tamara: Oh, congratulations. Men love virgins. If every man had his way, every woman would lie down a prostitute and get up a virgin.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 62nd Annual Academy Awards (1990) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Joseph! Joseph!

Great transition from the book!

After reading the novel this film was based on, I thought: "No way! There is absolutely no way they can portray these raw emotions on film!" But that's exactly what the amazing actors do! The three women are as different as they could be, but each character is spot-on. Between these 3 women (Lena Olin, Anjelica Houston and Margaret Sophie Stein) is Ron Silver, whose character's emotions are clearly displayed on his face - I don't know if he is the anchor in the movie, because at times he is overshadowed by his female co-stars, but he makes me sympathize with him.

The "old" feel of the movie is great, and I do believe that it's a realistic image of New York in the late '40s.

It might be a bit depressing, but it should be seen if not only for the acting - trust me, it's fantastic!