I heard from several blogs that it was one of their top favorite movies... and I hadn't seen it! Luckily, it was on YouTube, and I watched the whole thing Sunday evening.
And it was marvelous! The music was wonderful, the story touching, and the movie was very well cast, IMHO.... especially Tevye.
The movie was not just fluff, either. It really got me to thinking about prejudices, about changing times, Tradition, and marriage (especially "outside the Faith." More on that later.)
I think it's so interesting that Tevye, a poor dairy farmer and a fairly uneducated man, shows such strength, patience, and wisdom.
He makes a ton of tough decisions. Allowing his eldest to marry the man of her choice after he made an arranged marriage with an old but wealthy butcher, allowing his second eldest to marry... I believe he's a communist, from his theories and his teachings of the Holy Book. :) "And the moral of the story is, don't trust an employer." RIIIIIGHT. But one of the most important decisions and one that really made me think was when he couldn't seem to accept Chava marrying a Christian.
I wondered what I thought about marrying outside my faith. I decided to ask my mom about it. She said she is living proof of that very thing because she did marry outside of her faith... sort of. My dad's mother was a Christian, but he wasn't really raised anything and still isn't. He's not atheist exactly, but....
Well, anyway, she said it might prove to be rather difficult to marry outside the faith, especially to someone who may be a devout something else, like Muslim or a Jew. My aunt said that she and my uncle really bonded over their faith, and she loved that they could support each other on this, and go to church together, and well... everything along those lines.
So I'm still thinking. I believe I'd have to REALLY REALLY love him to even consider such a thing. Because being a Christian would just be a wonderful, wonderful bond to have, and I think it is super important. I feel it would help everything out. But that's a big question and I think I'm just going to let the idea just float around for a little bit. What are your thoughts on marrying outside the faith?
Prejudice was also a serious issue. Why do others feel they are better than some people? That they are learning the "right" things and doing the "right" things or wearing the "right" things.... We have actually been discussing prejudice in English and we have decided prejudice is a society thing. You aren't born shunning people different from you. It is something you are taught as you go through life. It really hurt seeing all the hard working Jews kicked out of their homes and losing their jobs and losing their friends. And all because they were Jewish. Different. Not like "us." They had really done nothing wrong.
I've never really liked bittersweet endings. I liked the end of Fiddler on the Roof I suppose, but at the same time I didn't like it at all, you know?
Anyway, away from deep topics.... the music was so fun! The bottle dance was fascinating, "If I Were a Rich Man" had me laughing, especially with Tevye's odd dance! "Sunrise, Sunset" was beautiful. I could go on, but let me suffice to say it was lovely.
I feel I've learned more about the Jewish faith and their beliefs. I was very interested in their ceremony and ideals and prayers. The peasant way of life in Russia then was a real eye-opener too. There was such a wide gap between the poor and the middle class!
Golde was an interesting character too. She was tough and busy and impatient; but at the same time she was soft on the inside and content, and considerate. Rather confusing, huh? And her an Tevye's "Do You Love Me?'" was sweet. I got kind of annoyed that it took her so long to admit it though....
And by the end of the movie I was glad at least one "tradition" is really no longer in practice: arranged marriages. This song explains it all:
It was a wonderful movie and I'm sure I shall be watching it again soon! Have any of you seen Fiddler on the Roof? What did you think of it? What are your opinions on any of my "topics?'" (Keep it kind) Finally, I make no promises, but I sign off hoping to come out with a review of the movie Little Women (1994)soon.
