The Frisco Kid (1979)

In 1850, a newly-graduated Polish rabbi is sent to San Francisco to start his activities and to get married with an American woman. On the way he is robbed, and goes through various adventures, being befriended by a bank robber in the process.

In a way, this is an interesting film. It is dubious whether anyone has cared to analyze its meaning. Most comments I have read are either mindlessly admiring or dismissive in a somewhat puzzled way, and taken together they suggest a generalized lack of comprehension. It is only fair to admit its discourse is a bit disguised through some allegorical devices, although it employs direct concepts too; either way a little attention leaves no doubt about the point being made. The best guide is possibly the Goofs section at IMDB. To begin with, I do not think this has anything to do with the 19th-century American West. This is made obvious by the simplistic kids-friendly style, and even more so by the outrageous disregard with history shown in the reference to "Poland" and "Czechoslovakia" in a story set in 1850 (if this is not a dead giveaway, I do not know what could be). The aggressive errors regarding Jewish Law are also more than a bit intriguing in a movie that is supposed to provide a glimpse into precisely that kind of culture. With all that in mind, and a consideration of the events in the movie, one is tempted to surmise that the film is a comment on the Jewish situation along the ages, dating back to Joseph and the Pharaoh, but especially as of the 20th century. The weak Jew is seen as unfit to survive on his own in a hostile environment, and somehow receives the "muscle" he needs from a gentile man. What does the gentile man receives in exchange? He gets to have a "best friend", who nevertheless places the Sabbath observance and the saving of his Torah roll above the needs of his gentile "friend". The Jew eventually expresses remorse over his behavior, but one might add to his considerations that the Torah is not only a piece of paper, it is a symbol of the cohesion of the Jewish people. Although apparently the film's point has remained obscure to all, it is made in such a coherent, repetitive and didactic manner over nearly two hours of movie that it becomes pretty tiresome, and definitely not a rewarding experience. If one is interested in related matters, one may try the 2009 Israeli documentary Defamation, which I reviewed here.

Rating: 38