MovieChat Forums > The Sessions (2012) Discussion > did anyone see Jewish propaganda in the ...

did anyone see Jewish propaganda in the film? (i did)


I felt the movie subtly -or not so subtly- portrayed the catholic/christian belief as antiquated and out of touch, through the priest character. Then we saw how the Helen hunt character is shown having a long spiritual experience while in the Jewish water tank, something not directly related to the movie subject. I wanted to share this thought with others and see if they saw the same.

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Wow, propaganda? First, are we all on the same page as to what that word means: biased and/or misleading info aimed at promoting a viewpoint. I have had lots of exposure in my life to Catholicism and Judaism, and saw no such propaganda in this film. I saw a somewhat liberal priest (and there are quite a few around; I suspect most will not be promoted very much in their careers) and a Catholic woman whose husband and his family were urging her to join their religion, also not unusual. Hunt's episode in the mikvah (the ritual bath for women) was a normal thing and wasn't promoting Judaism, just depicting one tradition in the Orthodox and Conservative branches. Also, to Chops, Conservative Judaism is pretty accepting of gay rights and is doing gay weddings now, and they have women rabbis, so it really is only the Orthodox who are lagging on sexual modernity, though they generally do strongly promote straight marital sex, contrary to popular myth.

I have seen enough to know I have seen too much. -- ALOTO

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[deleted]

The film does not in anyway attack religion. Rather it shows its limits and its strengths. It is the practise of Catholicism that is criticised: Cheryl was on the receiving end of punitive and moralistic judgements regarding sex. The priest showed that depending on context and person such judgements of Catholicism are not found within him.

Cheryl converts to Judaism to please her husband's mother - an implicit criticism that the mother cannot accept her daughter-in-law as she is. Neither Catholicism or Judaism require a non-denominational spouse to convert. They require that the children of 'mixed' religious marriages be raised in their faiths though. Anyway, later when Cheryl goes to immerse herself in water she is met by an older woman, a maternal type figure, who talks about accepting the body. This applies not only to the physical realm but the metaphysical and is a metaphor for accepting Cheryl's spiritual body as it is - an agnostic.

I liked very much the themes of religion and spirituality being part of the film and thought it dealt with religion sympathetically. We see this most clearly in Mark's religious devotion; it provides him with succour and that's the most important thing a religion can offer its devotees.

I'm not trying to break your heart,
I'm just trying hard not to fall apart

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I think the biggest insult toward Judaism was that ugly redneck tattoo, Alan Arkin had. Jews do not get stupid tattoos, at least not practicing ones and Alan Arkin was a practicing Jew. It was utterly ridiculous and more Hollywood propaganda promoting those ugly things.

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lol and did you see Illuminatis too? Keep us posted. If you start seeing Mel Gibson though, you probably should see a therapist.

For every lie I unlearn I learn something new - Ani Difranco

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