Price Above Rubies DVD

A Price Above Rubies
Boaz Yakin (a Sundance winner for Fresh) wrote and directed this drama, set in Brooklyn's Orthodox Jewish community, about a young woman who harbors doubts about continuing to follow the path of her religion. Sonia (Renee Zellweger) gives birth to her first child. She wants to name the boy after her dead brother, but after an argument over the name, she resentfully defers to her husband, scholarly zaddik (holy man) Mendel (Glenn Fitzgerald). Both are apprehensive over the child's circumcision. Hasidic traditions dictate their life, including aspects of making love which leave Sonia sexually frustrated. This leads her into an affair with Mendel's older brother, the materialistic Sender (Christopher Eccleston), who offers her an opportunity to manage his neighborhood jewelry store. Against the wishes of Mendel, she accepts, displaying her flair for the jewelry business and establishing herself as a very good businesswoman. However, after she befriends sensitive Hispanic artist Ramon (Allen Payne), a sculptor and jewelry designer, she upsets everyone, especially Sender, who bars her from the store. Forbidden to see her child, Sonia begins a confused, downward spiral. Shown at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

Cast Renée Zellweger as Sonia Christopher Eccleston as Sender Glenn Fitzgerald as Mendel Allen Payne as Ramon Julianna Margulies as Rachel Kathleen Chalfant as Beggar Woman Edie Falco as Feiga John Randolph as Rebbe Kim Hunter as Rebbitzn Jackie Ryan as Young Sonia Shelton Dane as Yossi

Crew Douglas Aibel - Casting Joann Fregalette Jansen - Co-producer Ellen Lutter - Costume Designer David Wechsler - First Assistant Director Boaz Yakin - Director Arthur Coburn - Editor Harvey Weinstein - Executive Producer Bob Weinstein - Executive Producer Adam Brightman - Line Producer Leslie Barber - Composer (Music Score) Dan Leigh - Production Designer Adam Holender - Cinematographer Lawrence Bender - Producer John Penotti - Producer Leslie Rollins - Set Designer William Sarokin - Sound/Sound Designer Boaz Yakin - Screenwriter

A Price Above Rubies
While the initial idea of casting Renee Zellweger as an Orthodox Jewish wife seems fairy ludicrous, her richly drawn, expressive performance is the chief selling point of this often overearnest but sometimes rewarding drama. The central story of the main character's desire to escape her passionless marriage and suffocating existence is older than the Bible, but Zellweger makes the role believable and noteworthy, and sidesteps many of the clichés a lesser performance might employ. Boaz Yakin has assembled a top-drawer cast besides Zellweger, but the film would have benefited from a tighter script and a resistance to creating soap opera (especially in the form of Zellweger's lover, played by Allen Payne). Director Yakin was greeted with jeers from the Brooklyn Hasidic community depicted in the film, presumably for casting Hollywood beauty Zellweger in the title role and bucking more traditional casting; upon release, even lukewarm reviews were quick to praise her solid portrayal. ~ Jason Clark, All Movie Guide
 

(no awards)

General Specifications: Language Options: English Subtitle Options: English Sound Processing: 5.1: 5 full-range channels. Includes 3 for the front speakers, 2 surround channels for rear speakers, & 1 low-frequency effects (LFE) channel to carry deep bass effects 2: PCM stereo Additional Features: Theatrical trailer 5.1 Surround Widescreen [1.85:1] DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1: Theatre Wide-Screen MPAA Rating: R DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 116 min Part of Series: Miramax Classics   DVD Chapters: Chapter Selection 0. Chapter Selection 1. Program Start [:20] 2. Opening Credits [:54] 3. Memories Of Yossi [4:39] 4. The Bris [7:52] 5. A Wife Overwhelmed [2:20] 6. Conflicting Desires [7:10] 7. A Discussion Of Hearts [4:09] 8. Every Touch Burns [5:51] 9. The Passing Of The Rebbe [2:44] 10. Lessons In Sin [5:49] 11. Welcome To 47th Street [5:07] 12. Good But Not Beautiful [3:35] 13. The Ugliest Man Of All [2:17] 14. One Special Ring [5:28] 15. A Talented Jeweler [5:15] 16. In Desperate Need Of Help [7:40] 17. A World Of Possibilities [5:49] 18. Cut Off! [5:13] 19. Freedom With A Price [4:30] 20. Very Little And Nothing [5:55] 21. Breaking Down Walls [5:56] 22. Visit With The Rebbitzn [3:32] 23. An Act Of Reclamation [3:31] 24. Belated Gifts [4:23] 25. End Credits [5:54]