A Serious Man - 2009

After the Oscar success of No Country For Old Men, the Coen brothers made Burn After Reading, a typically Coen-esque comedy but a little light on meaning and substance. For their latest film they have created not only their most personal film, but also one of their wittiest and most enjoyable.

A Serious Man is a period film set in the 1967 in the Twin Cities, and tells the story of Physics professor Larry Gopnik. His is a troubled life, both at home and work. Up for tenure, Larry comes under pressure both from a blackmailing student and anonymous letters trying to undermine his potential tenure. At home things aren't any better - his wife wants a divorce, leaving him for Sy Abelman, a family friend and widower. His brother, Arthur, has been living on his couch for months, hogging the bathroom and writing an inpenetrable numerological treatise. Add to this a daughter stealing from him to fund a nose job and a son (Danny) who is constantly smoking weed, and you have what can only be described as a dysfunctional life.

Out of this Larry tries to remain a serious man. In the face of such adversity and antagonism, Larry tries to find some sense of spiritual solace and seeks the advice of three leading Rabbis. At the same time, his son, who is getting in trouble at school and is constantly being pursued by a bigger local kid, whom he owes money (used to feed his drug habit) - one of the funniest recurring moments in the film. Larry's attempt to seek spiritual understanding of his plight is enhanced by the upcoming Bar Mitzvah of Danny.

The film also contains a number of bizarre, slightly unreal moments, the opening for example is a 19th-century set prologue in which a Dybbuk (an undead of jewish folklore), is welcomed into the home of a Jewish man, before being stabbed by his wife, for being a Dybbuk. The so called Dybbuk then rises and leaves, leaving the mystery of his existence unresolved. This scene is also shot entirely in Yiddish. The final shot of the film offers an equally unresolved and confusing finale to the film.

This is one of the Coen's most uniquely satisfying films. Drawing from their own childhood, the film provides a level of insight and a personal touch often lacking in some of their other films. For all their talent, they are extremely mysterious directors; their films revealing their unique surreal outlook on life, but rarely the identity of themselves as filmmakers. A Serious Man offers a glimpse into who they were, and possibly what shaped their vision of the world. Add to this their brilliant style, a subtle, engaging performance from Michael Stuhlbarg and A Serious Man is a fine, exemplary and hilarious comedy.