This is a very personal film; in evoking the Coen brothers’ early life in Minnesota and exploring the experiences of Jews in suburban America in the 1960s it's probably their most autobiographical to date. The main protagonist is Larry Gopnik, a college professor and how his life falls apart- one of his students attempts to bribe him, a gentile neighbour tries to part of steal part of his land, his wife starts divorce proceedings against him whilst having affair with an older man, his brother is arrested, his son orders records from Time in the fathers name with no intention of shelling out for them himself and his daughter makes it clear that she’s biding time before having a nose job, presumably paid for by the father. In an attempt to gain control of his life and to appease his wife he visits a number of Rabbis for advice and is told more about teeth and car parks than anything useful. The main message of the film seems to be what ever we do could be absolutely futile in comparison with the power of God, serious stuff indeed. Especially as it explores the dichotomy of being Jewish; listening to your Rabbi and working towards your Bah Mitzvah, and being American listening to Jefferson Airplane and smoking pot.
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