Today’s Prayer Focus
MOVIE REVIEW

Solomon and Gaenor

MPA Rating: R-Rating (MPA) for sexuality and a scene of violence.

Reviewed by: Brian McClimans
CONTRIBUTOR

Moral Rating: Very Offensive
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience: Adults
Genre: Romance Drama
Length: 1 hr. 42 min.
Year of Release: 1999
USA Release:
Box art for “Solomon and Gaenor”
Relevant Issues

racial hatred

RACISM—What are the consequences of racial prejudice and false beliefs about the origin of races? Answer

Racism, Ethnicity Issues and Christianity
Get biblical answers to racial hot-topics. Where did the races come from? How did skin color come about? Why is it important to have a biblical foundation for such issues?

Legalism

Featuring Ioan Gruffudd, Nia Robe
Director Paul Morrisson
Producer David Green, Andy Porter, Sheryl Crown
Distributor Distributor: Sony Pictures. Trademark logo.Sony Pictures Classics, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment

I make it a habit of watching as many Oscar nominated films as I can. “Solomon and Gaenor” was nominated for Best Foreign Film for 1999 at the 2000 Academy Awards.

This is a love story about a young Jewish man and a young Christian woman. Set in 1911 Wales, the story itself is similar to the forbidden relationship found in “Romeo and Juliet.” There is deep racial tension between Jews and Christians at the time.

Solomon is a door-to-door salesman in a mining village. One day while making his rounds he meets up with Gaenor. Their relationship blossoms, but not without risks. At first, Solomon lies about himself. He never reveals to her that he’s a Jew; he tells her that his name is Sam. She thinks he’s just an Englishman. They meet secretly and eventually he meets her family. They also don’t know the truth.

During their courtship there are several scenes of passion. There is nudity and sexual relationships are shown. This easily could have been removed from the film, which would have boosted the moral rating.

Gaenor gets pregnant and eventually she learns the truth about the man she loves. Her family also finds out, and his family learns that she’s a Christian. They are forbidden from seeing each other… hence, the “Romeo and Juliet” nature of the film.

Besides the sex scenes and nudity, there is one graphic scene of violence, alcohol use, and some other lightly objectionable material.

There are several displays of religion. Many shots are filmed at Gaenor’s church and there are Jewish prayers. The film also has a display of strong Christian discipline in one scene against Gaenor and the risk of Jewish discipline against Solomon.

This film does have many avenues for discussion: legalism, racism, hatred, and life in general.

Despite the offensive material, a very beautiful and touching story. It’s well written and well acted.


Viewer CommentsSend your comments
Positive—I agree with the reviewer that this film was excellent in terms of the acting, directing, cinematography, and use of wonderful Welsh music. However, I can’t agree with the “extremely offensive” rating morally. The love scenes, the violence, the alcohol use… all are central to the message the story carries; Solomon and Gaenor transcend the boundaries of racial bias to have a forbidden affair… the love scenes demonstrate their humanity, passion, even joy over the creation of new life. The alcohol and violence, as well as the ostracism by both families and the church, show the very un-Christ-like behavior of people caught up in racial hatred.

Without these scenes, the movie would lose much of its stunning impact. Which, to me, is all about the extreme harm and havoc that holding to a rigid, inflexible viewpoint can wreak on innocent people whose “mistake” was love.

To use the cliche, “What Would Jesus Do?” Certainly not reject these naive young people or beat them to the point of slow death! Without the aforementioned scenes, this film wouldn’t leave you with that hollow feeling in your stomach that, “This isn’t right!”
My Ratings: [Better than Average / 5]
Holly H, age 43