A Stranger Among Us (1992)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Sidney Lumet

Writer (WGA):

Robert J. Avrech (written by)

Release Date:

17 July 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

In a dangerous world of mystery and intrigue, she's going undercover searching for the truth.

Plot:

In this attempt to revisit the success of Witness in which a cop goes Amish, we here have a cop go undercover among the Hasidic Jews of New York City...

Plot Keywords:

Undercover | Diamond | Jewel | Jewish Culture | Murder

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Melanie Griffith	...	Emily Eden
John Pankow	...	Levine
Tracy Pollan	...	Mara
Lee Richardson	...	Rebbe
Mia Sara	...	Leah
Jamey Sheridan	...	Nick
Eric Thal	...	Ariel
David Margulies	...	Lt. Oliver
Burtt Harris	...	Emily's Father
James Gandolfini	...	Tony Baldessari
Chris Latta	...	Chris Baldessari
Jake Weber	...	Yaakov Klausman
Ro'ee Levi	...	Mendel
David Rosenbaum	...	Mr. Klausman
Ruth Vool	...	Mrs. Klausman

Also Known As:

Close to Eden (Australia) (UK) (cable TV title)

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Brazil:14 | USA:R (original rating) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Germany:12 | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 (edited for re-rating) | Singapore:PG | Portugal:M/12 | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

83rd Precinct, Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Hollywood Pictures

Trivia:

At the Sabbath meal the assembled group dances to a "niggun" (wordless melody) that is traditional among Lubavitch Chassidim. It is usually sung as a preparation to one of the Rebbe's discourses being repeated from memory, though; not as a slow circle-dance.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The Ariel character has a neatly trimmed and partially shaved beard, while explaining payes (side curls). Ultra-Orthodox Jews do not shave any part of their beard or neck.

Quotes:

Emily Eden: With due respect, sir, inside every honest man, there's a thief trying to get out...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Law & Order: Criminal Intent: A Murderer Among Us (#3.7)" (2003)

A Look Into a Different World

I truly enjoyed this movie, despite bad reviews and comments about Melanie Griffith's role being not suited to her. It takes a cynical worldly woman cop (Griffith) into the strange world of Orthodox Jews when she goes undercover to investigate a murder. Her gradual acceptance into that world and growing respect for their customs and traditions was very moving to me. The warmth in the family meals and celebrations can be felt by the viewer and lets you understand how this cloistered world with rules for everything starts to look good to a woman who is so jaded and cynical in her outlook on life. The attraction between her and a Talmudic student provides sexual tension to the storyline, and the concept of finding the one person in all the world who was meant for you was so romantic.