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SHOLEM ALEICHEM: LAUGHING IN THE DARKNESSMovie Reviews
Documentary uses rare photographs and archive footage to recount the life and work of the Jewish author and intellectual. Cast:Dan Miron, Hillel Halkin, Bel Kaufman, David Roskies, Ruth WisseDirector:Joseph DormanRelease Date:July 8, 2011DVD Release:March 12, 2013From:International Film CircuitLength:1 hr 33 min
MARCH 12, 2013
Sholem Aleichem: Laughing in the Darkness, Very Good Reviews (Doc) Key Cities
Sholem Aleichem: Laughing in the Darkness played in key cities to very good reviews. • Kenneth Turan wrote in the Los Angeles Times, "...more than an examination of the contradictory life of the celebrated humorist and storyteller... a compelling cinematic look at the complex world of Eastern European Jews." • And Carrie Rickey called the film in the Philadelphia Inquirer, "...superb..." More Reviews Below...
Sholem Aleichem: Laughing in the Darkness Positive Reviews (24 Reviews, reviews below)
Roger Ebert, RogerEbert.com: VERY GOOD(cg) "...tells the story of Sholem Aleichem with many photographs and early films, most of them not showing him but re-creating the world that produced him."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 648 words, 08/26/11
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (10 Reviews)
Stephen Holden, New York Times: EXCELLENT "...a rich, beautifully organized and illustrated modern history of Eastern European Jewry examined through the life and work of the author..."(See all of Stephen Holden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 878 words, 07/08/11
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "...more than an examination of the contradictory life of the celebrated humorist and storyteller... a compelling cinematic look at the complex world of Eastern European Jews."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 729 words, 08/05/11
Lou Lumenick, New York Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "...offers well-chosen selections from Aleichem's darkly humorous work, much of which deals with Jews exploring their place in a secular world..."(See all of Lou Lumenick's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 194 words, 07/08/11
John Anderson, New York Newsday: VERY GOOD(cg) "...an absolute treasure trove of archival photographs and a dizzying array of antique movie footage... gives Sholem his props."(See all of John Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 304 words, 07/22/11
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "...tells the story of Sholem Aleichem with many photographs and early films, most of them not showing him but re-creating the world that produced him."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 648 words, 08/26/11
J. Hoberman, Village Voice: GOOD "...scholarly reflection on things Yiddish.... In the spirit of the 'Sholem Aleichem' oeuvre, 'Laughing in the Darkness' is a collective family album."(See all of J. Hoberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 375 words, 07/06/11
Anita Li, Toronto Star: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "Audiences interested in Jewish literature will find the film compelling... [but] the doc may be difficult to follow for those unacquainted with Jewish culture and history."(See all of Anita Li's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 157 words, 02/24/12
Rick Groen, Toronto Globe & Mail: VERY GOOD(cg) "Not often does a film double as a literary critic, but this is the Northrop Frye of docs. Essentially, it revises and sharpens the blunted reputation of a great writer."(See all of Rick Groen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 245 words, 02/24/12
Susan G. Cole, Toronto Now: EXCELLENT(cg) "...part bio, part journey through eastern European Jewish history from the 1850s through the 1930s.... An important doc for anyone who cares about literature."(See all of Susan G. Cole's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 289 words, 02/23/12
KEY CITIES (10 Reviews)
Adam Bernstein, Washington Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a highly accessible and sharply drawn film.... features interviews with authorities on Jewish traditions and literature who speak with the uninitiated in mind..."(See all of Adam Bernstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 729 words, 08/12/11
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Joseph Dorman's superb documentary remembers the author born Sholem Rabinovich in 1859 near Kiev with much laughter and much more insight."(See all of Carrie Rickey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 458 words, 09/23/11
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...traces the parallels between Aleichem's life, with fortunes won and lost, and his Job-like yet cheerful characters.... details his significance as a chronicler of Jewish life..."(See all of Colin Covert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 141 words, 09/09/11
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: EXCELLENT(cg) "What's so inviting about the movie is not only its love for Aleichem and his genius, but its love for language and its ability to transport us.... both educational and entertaining."(See all of Bill Goodykoontz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 542 words, 10/14/11
Mark Feeney, Boston Globe: VERY GOOD(cg) "It's easy to understand why Sholem Aleichem was referred to as 'the Jewish Mark Twain.' This is a person you'd enjoy spending time with and learning from."(See all of Mark Feeney's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 601 words, 08/26/11
Leba Hertz, San Francisco Chronicle: VERY GOOD(cg) "Dorman doesn't only focus on the life of Aleichem... a look at a society long gone and the legacy and traditions they and Aleichem left to Jews around the world today."(See all of Leba Hertz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 320 words, 08/19/11
Misha Berson, Seattle Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...the story of writer Solomon Rabinovitch is, in this fascinating, valuable documentary, broader and deeper than the résumé of a singular comic writer of genius."(See all of Misha Berson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 306 words, 09/30/11
Shawn Levy, Portland Oregonian: GOOD(cg) "...feels rather more like attending a university lecture on Aleichem than an actual film about him. That it's a good lecture counts for something -- for a lot, actually."(See all of Shawn Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 156 words, 12/16/11
Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: VERY GOOD(cg) "In recording the timeless traditions of Jewry, Aleichem created a new one: the identity crisis that rides on the back of laughter."(See all of Joe Williams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 378 words, 10/28/11
Steve Persall, St. Petersburg Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "...should mean most to literature buffs and Jews exploring their past, an insular appeal reflecting a culture long bullied into an 'us and them' mentality."(See all of Steve Persall's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 286 words, 10/20/11
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (4 Reviews)
J. Hoberman, Village Voice: GOOD "...scholarly reflection on things Yiddish.... In the spirit of the 'Sholem Aleichem' oeuvre, 'Laughing in the Darkness' is a collective family album."(See all of J. Hoberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 375 words, 07/06/11
Susan G. Cole, Toronto Now: EXCELLENT(cg) "...part bio, part journey through eastern European Jewish history from the 1850s through the 1930s.... An important doc for anyone who cares about literature."(See all of Susan G. Cole's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 289 words, 02/23/12
HIGHBROW PRESS (2 Reviews)
Stephen Holden, New York Times: EXCELLENT "...a rich, beautifully organized and illustrated modern history of Eastern European Jewry examined through the life and work of the author..."(See all of Stephen Holden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 878 words, 07/08/11
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "...more than an examination of the contradictory life of the celebrated humorist and storyteller... a compelling cinematic look at the complex world of Eastern European Jews."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 729 words, 08/05/11
MOVIE INDUSTRY (4 Reviews)
Ronnie Scheib, Daily Variety: GOOD "...intelligent if conventional bio-doc... evokes the dispersal of Eastern European Jewry in the 1800s from a lively, peculiarly folkloric perspective."(See all of Ronnie Scheib's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 607 words, 02/18/11
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "...more than an examination of the contradictory life of the celebrated humorist and storyteller... a compelling cinematic look at the complex world of Eastern European Jews."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 729 words, 08/05/11
Stephen Holden, New York Times: EXCELLENT "...a rich, beautifully organized and illustrated modern history of Eastern European Jewry examined through the life and work of the author..."(See all of Stephen Holden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 878 words, 07/08/11
8.7 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Sholem Aleichem: Laughing in the Darkness's reviews are separated by an average 8.7 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
Sholem Aleichem: Laughing in the Darkness (24 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Sholem Aleichem: Laughing in the Darkness's reviews cover 22.2% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 10,075 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 420 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Sholem Aleichem: Laughing in the Darkness Coverage, Volume & Length (24 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 52 Days After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Sholem Aleichem: Laughing in the Darkness's reviews on average broke 52 days after opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is Sholem Aleichem: Laughing in the Darkness's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Sholem Aleichem: Laughing in the Darkness (24 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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