Divan (2003) User Reviews

wonderful

[cherold · 8/10 · 1 June 2005]

Very personal documentary detailing the filmmaker's pursuit of a family heirloom, but also touching on the difficulties of leaving the Hasidic community and her efforts to get her father's approval. This does pretty much everything right. The story is well told and has some surprises, Gluck herself is likable and her expatriate Hasidm friends are articulate and insightful. The people she meets on her journey are charming and funny, and Rebbe's turn out to be more likable than stern in interviews.

I actually used to have a friend who had left the Hasidic community (they held a funeral for him when he left), so it was interesting to see a group of these people, one of whom reminded me of him. He always seemed lost, exploring some Christian groups just for the sense of community and spiritual joy, and after 30 years in the world he married and dragged his expatriate wife back to the Hasidm, pretty much dumping all his friends in the process. Which doesn't have much to do with the movie but does show how difficult it is much will it takes to leave.

Searching for Acceptance

[kino1969 · 8/10 · 17 January 2012]

This documentary by Pearl Gluck is a wonderful insight into the world of Hassidic Jews and the role of the woman in their society. Ms. Gluck, who does not conform to traditions (she is not quite secular, but doesn't strictly adhere to Hassidism), is in search of her ancestors' divan (sofa), which is given a spiritual status for its historical use by rabbis who owned it and slept/sat on it for well over a century. She not only interviews several people who no longer practice Hassidism, but she also follows the male-only movement of the sect to which her father belongs to get down to the reasoning behind a woman not being allowed to own such an item.

An underlying theme is that of her immediate family, especially acceptance from her father, which creates a highly-charged emotional layer to her documentary.

She visits a relative in Hungary, then goes on (what turns into) a spiritual journey into what it means to be a woman in the Hassidic community. It is truly a wonderful piece: an insight into her and how she personally perceives it, both in the US and abroad.

Great stuff! Deserving of a look, especially for those interested in Jewish studies and how women are treated. Easily 8 1/2 of 10.------ E.

Moving film and very revealing

[sammyusa123 · 6/10 · 20 March 2009]

Gluck shines through as a sensitive and intelligent young woman trying to emerge from a life that she does not want to live. Yet at the same time, she cherishes some vestiges from the past and tries to make sense of her present state. As a former Chassid myself, I found parts of it very moving especially the interplay between Pearl and her father- who shines through as one of the few decent male characters in the film. The film also showcases the misogyny, nastiness and hypocrisy of the infamous Satmar Chassidic cult.

In one scene Gluck is rudely ignored and then shooed away by a group of Satmar Chassidim on piligrimage to Hungary. Gluck takes it all in stride and remarkably so.

I found myself moved and also disturbed by this film.

Hilarious, Unique, Moving

[SciBry · 10/10 · 13 November 2003]

At the High Falls Film Festival I had the privilege to see "Divan." Divan, in Yiddish means "couch" The film is a documentary of the filmmaker, Pearl Gluck, as she goes to Hungary to reacquire a couch that is treasured in her family, who believe very important figures in the Jewish community slept on it. I think this film has high production value, feels down-to-earth, and was well-written (narration, etc.). It is an interesting journey across Eastern Europe in search of a couch that also serves as a way for this extraordinary (Fullbright scholar) woman to connect back to her family's roots.

You don't need to be Jewish to understand the message or the humor. There was relative after relative in Hungary who, after finding Pearl was almost 30 and unmarried, immediately would offer to matchmake (`Do you want to marry a rabbi?'). We in the audience knew that Pearl wasn't for the old ways (she explained that most Hassidic women are married at age 18). Pearl also sneaks videocameras into holy ceremonies and gets caught and stopped nearly every time. Sometimes I felt like it was `The Tom Green Show' or something. She provides narration that creatively compares the experience of seeing a famous Hassidic rabbi to seeing a rock star (and in doing so, does truly help us understand the Hassidic culture better). Pearl's friends are also on tap with hilarious stories of their own about Hassidism and remarks about the couch. I recommend this wonderful movie.

humorous, sincere, insightful

[brindledhound-1 · 6 May 2004]

Divan is a wonderful little documentary I was pleased to see at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival in 2004. It follows a "slipped" (meaning to be living outside the community) Hasidic woman-Pearl Gluck, the director- on her quest to acquire the ancient Divan couch that has the history of having been slept on by famous Jewish Rabbes.

There are a number of reasons that this documentary works as well as it does. Gluck is not a film maker, so the filming is amateurish and the flow seems disjointed at times, but these factors are irrelevant compared to the energetic editing and truly excellent soundtrack. However, it's the sincerity in her story-telling and honest love of her family's Hasidic heritage that make it compelling. And like all good documentaries, Divan uses a simple plot to really tell the story of something else, which in this case is Gluck's relationship with her father and Boro Park community whom she left as a child.

I had the unique opportunity to hear Gluck speak about her film after the viewing and her insights helped put a finer point on her excellent film, which is about the struggle to find happiness between traditions that you are connected to but at the same time reject.

Divan is delightful without being sentimental, and a great education on the more esoteric aspects of fundamentalist Judaism for non-Jews (like myself) and believers alike. Foe example the scenes of the prayer sessions on the pilgrimage and the Tish celebration were quite moving.

Well done, worth seeing.

One of the best Jewish films

[luvmymaggie · 10/10 · 27 August 2017]

I thoroughly enjoyed this film from beginning to end. I don't think I can improve upon kino1969's eloquent review above. I can only say the movie will make you laugh, cry, grimace, wonder, and generally revel in the joy of Judaism in all its weird and wonderful facets. The surprise ending was both unexpected and masterfully done. 10 stars!