Mendy (2003) User Reviews

It's worth seeing

[neuroillogical · 6/10 · 5 May 2006]

The film offers fairly nuanced insight into the world of Hassidic Jews, specifically, those amongst them who question their isolation in a black-hatted Yiddish-speaking universe.

If you've even wondered from the outside what it's like to grapple with that lifestyle, or if you've ever wondered from the inside what it's like to try and live a different way, this movie is one you want to see.

At a minimum, it will give you insight and make you think, at maximum, it has some messages that can change the way you see life. No small accomplishment from director Adam Vardy, dealing with a subject few dare to attempt.

Really bad film

[yediotm · 1/10 · 20 May 2007]

This film was bad enough to get me to spend my time writing this review.

It actually started out as a big promise. Finding this movie, I thought it would be a nice addition to contemporary Jewish cinema with films like the excellent "the believer". However I was very very wrong.

This is a bad film in every sense of the word bad. 1. very bad acting (the guy's friend was so obnoxious, I couldn't stand to watch him) 2. very shallow and uninspired script (Half of the script is just stupid rambling about f-cking, supposed to signify lecherous new york life) 3. mediocre movie making

This really looks and feels like a student film, and a pretty bad one. The only thing this guys got right is the DVD box which is pretty cool.

For me as someone interested in the line between religious Judaism and secular Jews, this film was a major disappointment and embarrassment. It is filled with the worst kind of stereotypes about orthodox Jews and about secular new-yorkers. Some parts got me so disgusted I could hardly watch it.

It wouldn't have made me so angry, if it weren't that this film even won awards in different film festivals like the San Paolo film festival, Bendfilm festival and Brooklyn festival. How on earth can that be??? I can't believe they didn't find better films to give awards to. Probably the politics of cinema played some parts here.

Anyway, spare your time. And if you wish to see a decent movie about a displaced Jew, go watch "the believer" or even "the chosen", but please not this one.

1/10

An interesting project but not a good movie...

[imdb-694-11888 · 3/10 · 23 March 2010]

I'm sorry guys, but this movie is bad.

Ivan Sandomire's performance, the music, and some externals (including the B&W still pictures) are good, but not strong enough to save the film.

I found the screenplay particularly unconvincing and the direction quite uninspired. The overall result looks more like a graduation project than a proper production.

It may be enriching for those struggling with emancipation from Hassidic Jews communities, but it fails to be compelling to a broader audience. As it talks about a young man in search for understanding, identity, and love, it could be much better.

I also found the representation of Brazilian culture, of which I know a thing or two, outrageously inaccurate and small-minded. It surprised me that it got best actress and best picture award in São Paulo International Film Festival (which is misspelled in the DVD cover as "Sao Paolo"). I went to the festival website archives (www.mostra.org) and found no confirmation. Perhaps they are referring to another festival or to nominations, which I would consider it misleading.

In anyway, for a really good movie showing the interaction of Jews and Brazilian culture, check "the year my parents went on vacation" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0857355/).

I hope this review helps.

This movie IS ALL TRUE.

[samsorsky · 10/10 · 5 September 2005]

Hi, My name is Chani and I was at the movie "Mendy" last night.

I sat in the theater for a while after the credits rolled and then remained in a quiet space for some time in the car.

My friend asked me"Chani, What are you thinking..." To which I responded "I am not thinking, I am just feeling."

At that moment I remembered the part in the film where Bianca asks Mendy not to think only to feel and his total perplexed look. He had no idea what she was asking from him, he had never experienced that.

I was able to see some progress in my journey, reflecting that I was in a space where I could JUST FEEL and NOT THINK!!! Thank you for that.

The reality: I have watched many movies based on the Jewish Community that I come from, and yet there are always things (sometimes even only one thing) that could never have taken place.. something quiet not kosher. This movie IS ALL TRUE. Has happened to different people at different times. I know them, I AM ONE OF THEM.

I love the fact that it did not have a definite goal or point. It was a story of the Journey.. the hardship we face.. the reality that we have so few choices... the pain we take in becoming healthy individuals in a society that is so foreign from us, yet within miles of our life.

How many of us turn out to be Yanky, drunk, high and running constantly to the unknown, doing the illegal and finding no purpose. How even when we try to make love, we have no words for it. We do not know how to say it, to appreciate its beauty. We make those we treasure run from us due to our ignorance, our lack of social etiquette.

How very few of us find inner peace, inner joy and spirituality among the outside world.

How no matter how far we run, we carry in our bags our Tefillin, and in the most unexpected moments take them out and pray.

Very fake

[xogygxo · 2/10 · 7 April 2005]

It's a little funny, the Yiddish makes it interesting, but a lot of silly comments and it sounds like bitter depressed person with a lot of issues wrote it up, very very bad ending, not a real ending to the movie.

It's very fake and not the real life in the Hasidic community, boys are smarter then this boy sounds, he knows how to take a train and get around the city and goes to clubs but cant buy himself a pair of jeans.

If you are not an orthodox Jew you will hate this movie, if you are an orthodox Jew you will find it a little funny and very stupid… The Yiddish speaking sounds very annoying it sound more like Russian Jews with bad Yiddish.

The education in the yeshivas from this movie sounds like these boys are told to study religion all day long I wonder how and why you see young Jewish boys who are very successful in business without any education

An accurate portrayal

[chanie10977 · 10/10 · 29 April 2006]

This movie is an accurate portrayal of the hardships that a young man faces. He leaves his community in which he was raised. The problem arises due to the limitations the community. In the community he does not learn how to read, write or speak English, nor is he given any skills that will enable him to make it in the outside world.

Mendy is a young man who searches… We watch him transform and find his peace.

The ending is profound. We are left wondering about his life. But most important we are left hoping that throughout his journeys he will continue to remain true to himself.

Unchosen filth

[because-of-him · 1/10 · 26 March 2016]

What could have been a beautiful story of a struggle by a Hasidic young man is actually a porn-fest of F words and nudity galore. There is so much nudity and profanity that the little Hasidim left over is barely convincing. Mendy, when he is not pretending to struggle with his Jewishness, is otherwise a good actor. But, when he pretends to struggle with the religion, he is as hollow as a blow-up sex doll. The only way to enjoy the movie, Mendy, is to live in Colorado or other state that sanctions drugs, and wait 30 minutes after a heavy dose of marijuana or uppers. Then, the movie will be enjoyable.

If you want a clean version that is both powerful and convincing, watch The Chosen, 1981, with Robby Benson.

A must-see for all in search of real characters.

[tristans-2 · 10/10 · 23 October 2005]

Mendy brought me in contact with a culture I knew very little about in a very modern way. Instead of following the typical introduction of a people through their rituals, the film actually deconstructs this culture via its main character. This unusual journey of a Hassidic Jew on the path of Western hedonism not only brings to light the sectarianism of such drastic religions, it also point the finger at the lack of spirituality (not religiosity) in the United States. By clashing these two worlds, Mr. Vardy has discovered what we could expect to be a controversial explosion. But far from simply contenting himself with the shock factor, the director finds the root of beautiful emotions, sincerity, loneliness, and therefore serves to us a palette of characters so sincere and touching that one cannot help but be carried into the story. Ivan Sandomire's acting is surprisingly dead-on for a newcomer and not once did I question the sincerity of his actions. Adam Vardy has tackled a difficult subject matter with tact and the result is worthy of the best festivals.

Well done

[atzd · 10/10 · 28 April 2006]

Having experienced some of the same issues as Mendy, I can tell you that this movie is very well done. It has a great script, and the actor who portrays Mendy is superb. Truly, some of the best acting I've ever seen. Also, too many movies portraying Jews look totally fake. This one is the closest to real that I've seen. This movie made me laugh and cry, and stirred my emotions better than a kitchen aid stirs a batter. It was so powerful that I can't bring myself to see it again. But I'm sure glad I watched it once. I would recommend it to anyone, no matter what your background is. It's a great movie that almost everyone can relate to on some level.

A Song About Souls

[nhakimi · 9/10 · 3 April 2012]

If you are a "big soul" yourself, and especially if Jewish and/or sufficiently well-read about Yiddishkeit (Jewish culture), you'll appreciate this telling about how Hashem brings a Hasid out into the big scary secular world to witness how the Neshama (Divine spark) manifests also in the many worlds outside Brooklyn. Our charming protagonist, well-played, grapples with certain questions and characters give simple – but not simplistic answers. In our language we would say this film is "Tam" (innocent) not "Chacham" (wise/clever) so don't expect a cerebral mind- bender. Hush and listen and this will reward you with low-budget production and homey charm. Perhaps G-d is in some Brazilian too? ;)

Excellent depiction of Self-Actualization in the modern world

[jfman · 10/10 · 19 May 2006]

This was a surprisingly great movie about a young Hasidic man's journey from an insular religious Brooklyn community to the modern, secular world of Manhattan. The film was both hilarious and profound, philosophical and emotional. Mendy's story will ring true for anyone brought up in a traditional community who tried to find their place in the chaos of modern society. As an Orthodox Jew, I found the story to be extremely realistic. In particular, Orthodox Jews will be able to understand the psychological enormity of the taboos that Mendy breaks - starting with cutting his peyos (sidelocks), then tasting his first cheeseburger, and having sex with a non-Jew. But ultimately it seems that Mendy finds some kind of peace with his new non-Orthodox lifestyle, despite having been brought up with almost no skills with which to function in American society. The final image of the movie is striking, a reaffirmation of Mendy's religious roots despite his abandonment of the Hasidic way of life. Great work by the writer/director Adam Vardy, and wonderful acting. Hopefully this movie will get the wider release it most definitely deserves.