A STRANGER AMONG US

US, 1993, 110 minutes, Colour.
Melanie Griffith, Eric Thal, Lee Richardson, Mia Sara, Tracey Pollan, Jamie Sheridan, James Gandolfini.
Directed by Sidney Lumet.

Sidney Lumet made interesting dramas for television in the 1950s and then moved to feature films with 12 Angry Men in 1957. He continued to make solid dramas for the next 50 years.

This murder mystery is set in the jewellery district of New York city as well as in the Jewish community in Brooklyn. There has been a robbery and murder and the police asked to investigate. The detective on the case is played by Melanie Griffith, an outsider coming into the Jewish community, observing its customs, critical of what was going on, falling in love with a young man and experiencing the criticisms of the Rabbi.

There is a twist in the plot as regards the killer. The film is interesting both as a human drama, a drama of love and relationships, the clash of cultures in a secular society, and the murder mystery.


1. A crime investigation? New York, Brooklyn? The police, undercover work? The life of an undercover officer, giving information, solving the crime, the effect on personal life?

2. The New York Jewish community, orthodox, the neighborhood and its isolation, homes, the synagogue, community centre for the men and their learning, the Rebbe, his leadership, the traditions, the number of commandments, Torah? The role of women, their place, modesty, domestic, at the side in synagogue?

3. The film showing details of observance, in the home, at work, at prayer, in talk, family life, marriage, arranged marriages? Not having anything to do with secular entertainment? A limited perspective, narrow?

4. Emily, her work, her father being in the police, her visits to him? Working with Nick, the personal relationship? Possibility of marriage? The stakeout, the criminals, no back-up, the club, taunting, Emily confidnet, going into action, the criminals and their attack, shooting Nick, her shooting the shooter? At hospital, with Nick, the effect? Internal affairs, the interrogation, the shooting? Her responsibility? Her asking for a new assignment?

5. The Jewish family, the Rebbe and his status, presiding at meals, Leah and her place within the house, modest and domestic? Ariel, his status as the Rebbe’s successor? Respect, learning, quoting Torah, the commandments? His friend Yaacov, his work, diamonds, their urging him to become engaged? The shop, his death? Emily and the discovery of the body? The reactions, a crime from within the community?

6. Emily visiting the Rebbe, her clothes, Leah covering her knees, her brazen attitude towards the Rebbe? And the encounter with Ariel, her expectations, her talking about having seen violence, underestimating the suffering of the concentration camps?

7. Her going undercover, altering her hair, the more conservative clothes, moving into the house, her lifestyle, learning? And her experiences with Ariel, the discussions? Her learning Jewish traditions? The friendship with Leah, going to the shop, finding the body, her working at the shop? Men flirting with her?

8. The Rebbe, his cooperation, liking Emily? And his concern about his daughter, about Ariel? About Yaacov’s fiancée?

9. The mafia thugs, threats, violent interactions, collecting the money? Their manner, Mara and her anger, wanting justice? Their return, making the threats, Emily making the arrest? The shooting? The dying man explaining that he was innocent of the robbery?

10. It becoming clear that the crime was internal, community upset, Emily and her firm opinion?

11. The range of rituals, Emily present, Emily and the audience learning about the traditions?

12. Ariel, the discussions with Emily, the visits, explaining the engagement, the arrangement with the fiancée from France? His visit to Emily’s apartment, seeing Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers and amazed at the beauty of the film? Horizons beginning to open? His love for Emily? Impossible to marry her? The effect on Emily, sad?

13. The solution to the crime, Mara and her denials, her violence, the gun, Ariel and his getting the gun, shooting Mara? The impact on him of having killed someone?

14. The ceremony, the discussion with the fiancée, going ahead with the wedding, the celebrations, Emily present, disappearing?

15. How well did the film blend the police genre with a mystery and with looking at Jewish Life in New York?