Melech Shel Kabzanim (2007) Reviews

• a very loose adaptation of a Yiddish novel

  sh_bronstein2009-02-23

  I would, first of all, like to warn those of you who have read the Yiddish book "Fishke der Krumer" (Fishke the Lame), and those who have seen the Yiddish movie version of this book called "The Light Ahead" by Edgar Ulmer: This movie is radically different to both the book and the earlier film. In this movie, Fishke becomes a warrior, who fights against the Ukrainians that were carrying out bloody pogroms (persecutions) against the Jews in the 17th century. It is a highly violent film, very disturbing to look at. The plot takes several surprising turns, which I will not mention here. In a way that keeps you curious about how it will all end, but to be honest, by the time it was over, I regretted having watched it all the way through. This film is not for children or for sensitive viewers. It has a good deal of violence and some nudity (male & female). The music to the film is good, the photography is very good but the acting is lame, and the plot is a bit disappointing.