Thursday, September 23, 2010

Holy Rollers Is A Film That Is Based On A True Story

By Barry Thornton

Holy Rollers is another look at the classic struggle to make one's own way in life. It was inspired by true events in the 1990s in New York, when orthodox Jews were acting as mules to smuggle the drug ecstasy into the US from Europe. However, the story line and characters are fictional. Introduced at the Sundance Film Festival early this year, it is now in the movie theaters and will come out on DVD in October 2010.

Introduced at the Sundance Film Festival in January, the movie is a psychological thriller rated R. It is in theaters over the summer and will be available on DVD in October. It has had mixed reviews, but more patrons recommend it than not.

As Sam gets older and nearer to his fate, he begins to chafe at the restraints imposed on him by his family's expectations. Sam has a talent for business and sees ways that the family fortunes could improve, but his father refuses to allow him to take an active part in commerce, urging him to devote himself to the study of the Torah. Sam, however, is beginning to realize that he may not be rabbi material, and is unsettled enough to recruited by the older brother of a friend to make money by bringing 'medicine' into the US from Europe.

With no encouragement or understanding from his father and no fulfillment in his spiritual life, the young man is ripe to be recruited for an exciting trip to Europe to bring 'medicine' back into the country. The older brother of Sam's best friend entices both innocents to make an initial run. Although his friend pulls out once the true nature of their task is revealed, Sam is caught up in the lure of the life he has glimpsed.

The Israeli dealer who is Sam's new boss recognizes the recruit's instinct for business, and the young man is soon rising up in the trade, eventually causing jealousy in other employees, recruiting others as innocent as he once was, and even trying ecstasy for himself. For a time he is able to lead a double life, but his family and his community finally act on their suspicions and turn against him.

As things begin to unravel for Sam in both his lives, he learns that there is a middle ground between religiosity and depravity where God may be found. He ends up on the run, struggling with a decision that will hurt many of the people he has tried to love.

The decisions the maturing youth must make, and the dangers he faces as he does so, are the climax of this emotional thriller. It is rated R and has received both good and bad reviews in almost equal number; more of those who have seen it give it a thumbs up than the number of those who do not recommend it.

The name of the drug is the key to the title of the film. This was a derisive term coined to describe pentecostal Christians who become ecstatic during worship, which is now sometimes used proudly by the very ones it was meant to mock. Users of the street drug seek to attain a state of euphoria by using an illegal chemical.

Holy Rollers, the movie, has had mixed reviews, but more people like it than don't.

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