Alan & Naomi (1992)

Based on the book by Myron Levoy.

Director:

Sterling Van Wagenen

Writers:

Myron Levoy (novel), Jordan Horowitz (screenplay)

Stars:

Lukas Haas, Vanessa Zaoui, Michael Gross

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lukas Haas	...	Alan Silverman
Vanessa Zaoui	...	Naomi Kirschenbaum
Michael Gross	...	Sol Silverman
Amy Aquino	...	Ruth Silverman
Kevin Connolly	...	Shaun Kelly
Zohra Lampert	...	Mrs. Liebman
Victoria Christian	...	Mrs. Kirschenbaum
Charlie Dow	...	Joe Condello
Randy Williams	...	Ken Newman
Mary McMillan	...	Mrs. Landley
Richard K. Olsen	...	Finch
Stacey Moseley	...	Gloria
Mark Fincannon	...	Mr. Kirschenbaum
Becky Wyatt	...	Norma
Derek Knott	...	Larry Dennison

Storyline

Set in the forties. A young Jewish boy is called on by his parents to help a young girl come out of her shell, imposed after she watched her father die at the hands of the Nazis.

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Plot Keywords:

girl | jewish | boy | reference to charles lindbergh | new student | 

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Genres:

Drama | Family

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 January 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Alan E Naomi

Filming Locations:

Wilmington, North Carolina, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$259,311 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Leucadia Film Corporation, Maltese Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Allied)

User Reviews

Riviting Performances.

This is a film about a Jewish teenager (Haas) who has no idea what his Jewishness means and meets a Jewish girl who knows nothing else.

The plot of the film allows us to watch him learn how Alan controls his temper and becomes a man while dealing with very serious problems as he slowly draws her into the world they live in.

Anyone who has dealt with mental illness knows that progress is not linear. Many backward steps are taken for every one that moves forward. In that the film is slightly deceptive: it leads us to believe that his treatment of her was like solving a geometry problem: each part contributes to the whole. If the part does not fit don't use it.

Movies are only two hours long. Choices have to be made. David and Lisa is probably better if one seeks accuracy. The choice here was character.

Alan grew. He learned how to give all he could to someone else. He was not thinking of his reward: he was thinking of her. As much as anything, his early failures brought about that development.

For such a young actress, Vanessa Zaoui had a wide range of emotions to deal with and she does it well. She went from compulsion (paper tearing) to transference (talking through her doll) random intense fear but timid acceptance of the outside world, to catatonia. At each step Alan, her unselfish teacher and leader, knows instinctively what to do simply by loving her as he would a much younger handicapped sister. He slowly learns how to sensitively communicate the very essence of himself.

I would not call this an entertaining film, but it is a very good study of two young teens who teach each other much.