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 Trembling Before G-d (2001)
Director:
Sandi Simcha DuBowski
Release Company:
New Yorker Films
MPAA Rating: NR
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Worshippers at Wailing Wall, Jerusalem, Israel
Photographic Print
Marshall, James
Buy at AllPosters.com
 
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"A man who lies with a man as one lies with a woman, they have both done an abomination: they shall be put to death, their blood is on them." – Leviticus 10:13
The subjects of Sandi Simcha Dubowski's intimate documentary are all devout Orthodox or Hasidic Jews. They are also gay, bringing automatic conflict between two core issues within their souls because traditional rabbis contend that no one can be completely devout to Judaism and defy a practice that "G-d" has prohibited. Not that this is an issue only confined to Jews—most of the other major world religions can cite scripture that condemns homosexual acts as well. (see note below review)
For most who condemn homosexuality, the issue is theoretical--they've either neither experienced it or have so much self-hatred that they've dismissed the issue. Where does that place a devout Jew who happens to be gay? Trembling Before G-d doesn't pretend to find the solution for these conflicted souls--the most sympathetic rabbi consulted concludes that a devout Jew must struggle with whatever law tempts him, meaning the best a homosexual Jew can do is to remain celibate.
As difficult as this is for people to imagine, it makes more sense than some of the other rabbinical advice mentioned in the film. A 35 year old Orthodox gay man named David describes how one rabbi had recommended a heavy diet of figs and prayer, while another told him to strap a rubber band around his wrist and administer aversion therapy by snapping the rubber band whenever he found himself attracted to another man. (This only caused David's wrist to get very sore) Another rabbi thought that the only kind of sex that gay men had was anal, and couldn't fathom why any gay man would want to practice oral sex. The most extreme views against Jewish homosexuals is shown in one brief clip of some protesting Hasidic Jews in front of New York's City Hall, calling for the death penalty for practicing homosexuals.
The ridiculous rabbis aren't caricatured live on film--talking heads discuss the ludicrous encounters they've had. Dubowski's sample may be small, but these are voices discussing a subject that few dare reveal, lest they be drummed out of their religion-—the ones who talk openly have already removed themselves from actively participating in with the Orthodox and Hasidic community at large. Others are only shown as silhouettes, and one lesbian couple anonymously discusses their issues using darkened 60 Minutes anonymity and Austin Powers camera shots that block their faces with well placed plants, telephones, or kitchen appliances.
Living a "discreet" gay life has its drawbacks for the two couples pictured--neither couple feels comfortable participating within the Jewish community and practices the traditions in private or puts their faith on the back burner. Such is the case of middle-aged Israel, who speaks intellectually against Jewish doctrine while acting as a "Big Knish" tour guide in Brooklyn's Hasidic neighborhoods. Yet the emotional high point of the film comes when he drops all pretense and lets out that "I want my daddy... I'm 58 years old, and I want somebody to stand at the head of the table and sing 'Shalom Alecheim'." Israel hasn't spoken to his 98-year old father for 30 years, and the documentary records an awkward phone call reunion.
Don't expect a lot of action with the documentary, and don't expect journalistic coverage to examine all viewpoints concerning the issue. The viewpoint comes from a decidedly gay perspective, as it should be for the purpose of this film--people can get plenty of anti-homosexual coverage from various rabbis, preachers, and religious teachers. The scriptures are black and white with words like "abomination" and its equivalent firmly established.
That DuBowski could find willing gay participants to open up their lives on camera at all is an amazing accomplishment, but keep in mind that it took five years of globetrotting around Brooklyn, Jerusalem, Los Angeles, London, Miami and San Francisco to gather footage. To present a more authentic documentary, the director was forced to find creative ways to show that many gay Jews had to practice their faith "in the closet," and he explains his choice of using silhouettes in an interview with IndieWire:
"...there were stories we would not have because people were afraid of showing themselves. By in large, people were still practicing Orthodox and many were married. Without those stories, it would be an inauthentic film. What became clear was that we were not able to film religious life."
Despite the predominant "talking heads," DuBowski varies the shots enough to keep interest during the hour and a half documentary. It helps that he is able to balance a very sensitive and melancholy Orthodox gay man named David with devout and outgoing Mark, a London Jew who brings many touches of humor to the film. Mark's parents made the "mistake" of sending him to Israel after they discovered an article about homosexuality in his pocket. They were convinced that no gay Jews inhabited Israel, but that's where Mark came out flamboyantly, determined to have fun.
Neither one can claim a solution to their spiritual plight. David's pilgrimage to Jerusalem to pray at the Western Wall and leave a prayer there for God to accept him as he is doesn't convince him that it is so--the thought that he must live a celibate life without human love depresses him. Mark enjoys the camaraderie of the all-male study groups (captions appear whenever the film uses a Jewish term), but has been kicked out of seven such groups due to his openly gay lifestyle. Sadly, he is also battling AIDS at the time of filming.
The audience for this film will be small, and you'll have to search for it in small arthouse venues until someone decides to convert it to video and/or DVD. Trembling Before G-d contains more real humanity than any film I've seen recently, and the issues remain relevant to anyone who is either gay or devoutly religious. People who fall into both categories will especially relate to the film since they are certain to be battling the same internal forces, no matter what the religion. War of this sort remains unending, tortuous, and forever unresolved.
The DVD release is even more effective because its bonus disc contains a wealth of additional interviews with rabbis and background information on the effects that the film has had on various lives, along with insights about the filming process. Since the film found only limited release, the DVD can find its way to a wider audience, including many devoutly religious people who find that they must keep their sexuality deeply closeted.
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Brief listing of other parallel religious references to homosexuality:
Fundamental Christians can cite any of the Old Testament passages from the Torah, and include the following passage from Paul:
"Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another, Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion." Romans 1:26-27
"The man that lies with mankind as man lies with womankind, or as woman lies with mankind, is the man that is a Daeva [demon]; this one is the man that is a worshipper of the Daevas, that is a male paramour of the Daevas"
Zoroastrian law book, The Vendidad
"We also sent Lut: He said to his people: "Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you? For ye practice your lusts on men in preference to women: ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds." Qur'an 7:80-81
"No matter how devoted and fine the love may be between people of the same sex, to let it find expression in sexual acts is wrong. To say that it is ideal is no excuse. Immorality of every sort is really forbidden by Bahá'u'lláh, and homosexual relationships He looks upon as such, besides being against nature...To be afflicted this way is a great burden to a conscientious soul. But through the advice and help doctors, through a strong and determined effort, and through prayer, a soul can overcome this handicap." Letter on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Bahá'i Faith, March 26, 1950
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