Parents' Guide to The Chosen

Led by four strong performances, this coming-of-age drama about friendship across two very different Jewish communities is a thoughtful and engaging adaptation of Chaim Potok's 1967 novel. The Chosen does a good job of not "choosing sides" here—both Reuven and Danny are relatable in different ways, and both show a level of respect and acceptance for the other's experience. The particularly strong opposing views come from their fathers, one a Hasidic Rabbi and one a liberal scholar, but there's sometimes a wary acceptance to be found, even between them. While Jewish traditions and the effect of events such as World War II and the formation of the state of Israel are important aspects of the story, it's the friendship between the two boys that's really at its core. Danny helps Reuven read Jewish texts and invites him over for Shabbat, while Reuven takes Danny to his first movie and plays him music on the piano. It's here that Danny says the tunes sound Hasidic, and already the walls of difference are coming down. Reuven's face lights up as he immerses himself in joyous Hasidic celebrations, and Danny's eyes widen in excitement at the psychology books he secretly reads in the local library. Father-son relationships are also front and center, and there's a particularly touching moment toward the end of the movie that shows just how powerful that connection can be. This is a poignant story of friendship and two different but overlapping Jewish experiences in 1944 Brooklyn that still resonates today.