I was reading Hasidic Rebel a few weeks ago and saw that he recommended this film, The Believer. It sounded interesting and I finally had occassion to rent and watch the DVD today.

The film was powerful, no doubt, and I enjoyed the unusual subject-matter - a self-hating Jew who becomes a skinhead neo-Nazi. It was also interesting to find out, after hearing the director's interview, that the story was loosely based upon a real person. Having just finished reading Paul Johnson's, A History of the Jews, it also carried special interest (the propensity for Jews to become some of the worst anti-semites is a common theme), and having just spent much of the past year watching so many Jewish names associated with all sorts of far-left anti-semitic causes (with the likes of International ANSWER, et. al...), that furthered the interest.

A few things didn't work so well for me, however. The relationship with the older Fascist didn't really make a lot of sense. What was his deal, and what was he hoping to accomplish hiring the kid as a spokesman? The other, quiet skinhead and his secret (avoiding a spoiler) didn't quite seem to me to be used to much effect, and a few other things made this film seem a bit rough around the edges. I also thought some of the acting was a bit low-grade. Any time I'm repeating lines back to myself in the way I think they should be said, it means a film may have some troubles (Someone discover me!).

One more thing: There's a scene near the end where "all the right-wing money in the city" (paraphrasing) is gathered. Well, I think the writer should have changed that. In today's world, that room of people coming to support a Fascist, anti-semitic cause are far more likely to be associated with the left than the right.

All that said, though, due to the subject matter, and the overall interesting way it was handled, I'd have to say this picture was very much worth seeing.