Indignation (2016)

In 1951, Marcus, a working-class Jewish student from New Jersey, attends a small Ohio college, where he struggles with sexual repression and cultural disaffection, amid the ongoing Korean War.

Director:

James Schamus

Writers:

Philip Roth (based on the novel by), James Schamus (written for the screen by)

Stars:

Logan Lerman, Sarah Gadon, Tijuana Ricks

6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tijuana Ricks	...	Old Age Home Nurse
Sue Dahlman	...	Older Olivia
Jason Jiang	...	Yu Yuan
Logan Lerman	...	Marcus Messner
Avy Eschenasy	...	Rabbi
Richard Topol	...	Mo Greenberg (as Rich Topol)
Danny Burstein	...	Max Messner
Walter Bernstein	...	Walter Semmelweis
Joanne Baron	...	Mrs. Greenberg
Eli Gelb	...	David
Bryan Burton	...	Ben
Susan Varon	...	Mrs. Davidovich
Linda Emond	...	Esther Messner
Betsy Hogg	...	Sophomore Girl
Philip Ettinger	...	Ron Foxman

Storyline

Set in 1951, the story follows Marcus Messner, the idealistic son of a humble kosher butcher from Newark, N.J. Marcus leaves for Ohio to study at a small, conservative college, where he finds himself at odds with the administration, grapples with anti-Semitism and sexual repression and pines after a troubled girl.

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Plot Keywords:

sexual repression | kosher | jewish | atheist | kaddish | 

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Taglines:

Based on the novel by Philip Roth.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content and some language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Twitter

Country:

USA China

Language:

English Hebrew

Release Date:

11 August 2016 (Slovenia)

Also Known As:

Indignación

Filming Locations:

9-17 Clintonville St, Whitestone, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$93,125, 29 July 2016, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$3,399,841, 30 October 2016

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bing Feng Bao Entertainment, Likely Story, RT Features

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.00 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Directorial debut of James Schamus.

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Goofs

Olivia makes reference to a quote attributed to Benjamin Franklin when she says "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch." Franklin most likely never said this. This quote does not appear in any of Franklin's writings and the word "lunch" did not enter the English vernacular until the 1820s; decades after his death.

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Quotes

Marcus Messner: I don't care what it suggests, Dean Caldwell, I will not be condemned on the basis of no evidence.

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Connections

Referenced in Film 2017: Episode #45.10 (2016)

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Soundtracks

Symphony No. 4 in F minor Op. 36 - Finale: Allegro con fuoco
Composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Arranged by Jim Long
Courtesy of Crucial Music Corporation and Point Classics

User Reviews

The decision is in, this is a great one!

Well respected Producer James Schamus ("Brokeback Mountain", "HULK", "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon") leaps into the directors chair with ease and beauty, presenting a youth oriented torrid love story set against the Korean War. At the heart of the film is Marcus (Logan Lerman - "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" 2012), a young Jewish boy searching for the meaning of life, death and love. His attraction, Olivia Hutton (Sarah Gadon - "The Amazing Spider-Man 2"), is herself at odds with society. While the two fight for their existence, Dean Caudwell (Tracy Letts - Pulitzer Prize-winning writer of "Killer Joe" and "August: Osage County") and Marcus' mother Ester (Linda Emond) are present to question their every move. Under Schamus'superb direction, the film moves slowly and deliberately, enabling every nuance of each characters story to build with tension and angst, keeping the audience wondering if and when the characters may implode. Based on the novel by Philip Roth (which I haven't read), Schumas has written an outstanding story, featuring top rated dialogue exchanges between Marcus, Dean Caudwell and his mother. Set in 1951 Ohio, Cinematographer Christopher Blauvelt and Costumes by Amy Roth enable the film to feel comfortable and familiar. Marcus' classmates Philip Ettinger and Ben Rosenfield, and his father Max (Danny Bursting), are perfect contradictions to everything Marcus believes in. "Indignation" is a grown-up film that beautifully captures youth oriented angst of family, friends, love and purpose. Don't miss this one! Award recognition is sure to follow here.