Search - The Believer on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Violence, Not For Children, Adult Language, Sexual Situations, Watch With Your Teen Movie Release: 2001 DVD Release: 04/22/2003 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 39 mins Studio: Palm Pictures Members Wishing: 15 Genres: Drama, Psychological Drama, Coming-of-Age, Social Problem Film

In this powerful and disturbing drama, Danny Balint (Ryan Gosling) is a member of a gang of racist skinheads who espouses a vile but well-articulated philosophy of anti-Semitism. Danny also has a secret -- he is a Jew, and was a top student in Hebrew school before he began to ask too many questions about the deeper implications of the teachings in the Torah and the Old Testament, leading to his expulsion. Angry and confused, Danny began to explore the philosophies of the neo-Nazi movement, which he soon came to embrace through a mixture of anger over the tragic history of the Jewish people, bitterness over his experiences in Hebrew school, and a loathing of himself. Danny soon becomes a key member of a skinhead sect led by Curtis (Billy Zane) and Lina (Theresa Russell), but while Curtis and Lina believe that the desire for cultural assimilation by many American Jews will lead to their self-destruction, Danny advocates a more direct and violent approach in dealing with the "enemy." Danny gains the admiration of his fellow skinheads for his intelligence and commitment, and wins the affection of Carla (Summer Phoenix), a group member with severe masochistic tendencies. But in time Danny's beliefs begin to shift once again, just as the truth about his background becomes known to his comrades. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival, The Believer was inspired by the true story of Daniel Burros, a member of the American Nazi Party who committed suicide in the 1960s when it was revealed by the press that he was born to a Jewish family. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Ryan Gosling - Danny Balint
Summer Phoenix - Carla Moebius
Theresa Russell - Lina Moebius
Billy Zane - Curtis Zampf
A.D. Miles - Guy Danielsen

This powerful independent drama about a Jewish man who joins a neo-Nazi group gets a well-appointed presentation for its DVD release. The Believer has been given a letterboxed transfer to disc in the widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1, and is enhanced for anamorphic playback on 16 x 9 monitors. The audio has been mastered in Dolby Digital 5.1; the dialogue is in English, with optional subtitles in Spanish. Bonus materials include a commentary track featuring director Henry Bean, an additional interview with Bean, an episode of Anatomy of a Scene created for the Sundance Channel, and the film's original trailer. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide