Focus (I) (2001)

In the waning months of World War II, a man and his wife are mistakenly identified as Jews by their anti-Semitic Brooklyn neighbors. Suddenly the victims of religious and racial persecution... See full summary »

Director:

Neal Slavin

Writers:

Arthur Miller (novel), Kendrew Lascelles (screenplay)

Stars:

William H. Macy, Laura Dern, David Paymer

2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
William H. Macy	...	Lawrence 'Larry' Newman
Laura Dern	...	Gertrude 'Gert' Hart
David Paymer	...	Mr. Finkelstein
Meat Loaf	...	Fred (as Meat Loaf Aday)
Kay Hawtrey	...	Mrs. Newman
Michael Copeman	...	Carlson
Kenneth Welsh	...	Father Crighton
Joseph Ziegler	...	Mr. Gargan
Arlene Meadows	...	Mrs. Dewitt
Peter Oldring	...	Willy Doyle
Robert McCarrol	...	Meeting Hall Man (as Robert Mccarrol)
Shaun Austin-Olsen	...	Sullivan
Kevin Jubinville	...	Mr. Cole Stevens
B.J. McQueen	...	Mel
Conrad Bergschneider	...	Tough's Leader

Storyline

In the waning months of World War II, a man and his wife are mistakenly identified as Jews by their anti-Semitic Brooklyn neighbors. Suddenly the victims of religious and racial persecution, they find themselves aligned with a local Jewish immigrant in a struggle for dignity and survival.

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Plot Keywords:

jewish | neighbor | jew | face slap | religious discrimination | 

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Taglines:

Everything Is About To Become Very Clear

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic material, violence and some sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Paramount Classics (USA)(Flash site)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 May 2002 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Foco

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$24,139 (USA) (19 October 2001)

Gross:

$717,820 (USA) (15 March 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carros Pictures, Dog Pond Productions, Focus Productions Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Neal Slavin claimed to have wanted to make this film since college.

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Goofs

Just after Mr. Newman his been attacked, one of the frames on his glasses is obviously bent. However, when he enters Mr. Finkelstein's shop just seconds later, his glasses are in perfect shape.

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Quotes

Finkelstein: They are a gang of devils and they want this country!

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Crazy Credits

Thanks to the residents of Campbell Avenue & Wallace Avenue, Toronto, Ontario.

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Connections

Version of Theatre 625: Focus (1966)

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Soundtracks

"I'll Never Smile Again"
(1939)
Written by Ruth Lowe
Performed by Glenn Miller
Published by Universal-MCA Music Publishing
A Division of Universal Studios, Inc. (ASCAP)
Courtesy of the RCA Music Corporation, a Division of BMG Entertainment

User Reviews

The message is timeless - baseless hatred is stupid

The essential message - one which Miller would have surely intended after seeing Vichy war crimes trials - is that hatred of somebody without rational basis is a waste of life. Meat Loaf's character, Fred, has known Lawrence for many years, and yet when the time comes, at the bidding of his fanatical supporters, he allows them to attack a man who is not part of their "target" group. For me, this is the crucial message - it doesn't matter what Lawrence and his wife do from this point onwards - they are marked, and have chance to save themselves by using reason. Animal aggression and anger have blinded Fred's Union thugs to reality.

A friend of mine suggested I should see "The Wave" to study how irrational hatred and evil ideology can take over people without them realising it. I once conducted an experiment in a role-playing game, and was shocked to see how normal and level-headed people welcomed the creation of an oppressive police state - which would ultimate threaten them all - because it crept in in stages.

Fred is the start, his LA friends and preacher idol are the catalyst which pushes his neighbours over the edge into violence without stopping to think that what they are doing in wrong.

The relationship between Lawrence and Finkelstein, the Jewish shopkeeper is a fascinating one, because Lawrence misses the point almost until the end: if the bigots force Finkelstein out, where is he to go? If his family have fled the Nazis, what an irony to be tormented again in the land of "freedom".

That big poster (it's a fairly famous propaganda piece) about American families enjoying the highest standard of living in the world is a very important detail. When you see this film, watch for the grafitti on the subway train, and all the little posters. The message lurks there too.

This movie should be on the curriculum of every school, especially in our time when baseless hatred is being promoted so widely by "reasonable" people who are just extremists in thin disguises.