Neighbors

Author(s): Alex C. (WA)
Neighbors

Directed by Mike Nichols
Written by Tony Kushner
Distributed by Paramount Vantage
Music by John Williams

Principal Cast:
Mandy Patinkin (Tobias Schwartz)
Julie Christie (Ilsa Lang)
Joel Grey (Sebastian Schwartz)
Emily Mortimer (Anna Lang)
Debra Winger (Sara Schwartz)
Daryl Sabara (Jacob Schwartz)

Tagline:
“She thought she ran away from her demons. Now they're right next door.”

Synopsis:
Larchmont, New York. 1985.

German immigrant Ilsa Lang has lived in Larchmont, a suburb of New York City, for about 40 years. Ever since her husband died, her daughter Anna has lived there. She has never liked being alone. But after meeting her new neighbors, all she wants is to be alone.

Tobias Schwartz has just moved into Ilsa’s neighborhood along with his wife Sara, his son, Jacob, and his elderly father Sebastian. Attempting a kind gesture towards her new neighbors, Anna invites them over for dinner. It is a fairly normal meal throughout, but something is different. You see, Ilsa recognizes Tobias and Sebastian. Now, Tobias doesn’t recognize the ageing woman but Sebastian does. One glance at an old photo on a windowsill confirms his suspicion. It has been 50 years since he last saw her, but he knows who she is. Ilsa Lang was the woman, then practically a girl, who turned his family in to the Nazis.

It was a chilly day in December, 1935. Sebastian had gone into hiding with his young son Toby and his wife Esther. They had been hiding in the local church basement for almost a month, being hidden by a priest and a young teacher. The teacher’s name was Ilsa Eckhart. He had learned later from the priest, with whom he had kept in touch after he was released, that Ilsa had been paid by the Gestapo to uncover and turn in any Jews he was hiding. Sebastian, Toby, and Esther were three of her many victims. They were shipped off to a small town in Germany known as Dachau, the site of Germany’s only extermination camp. It was here that Esther passed away, screaming for her child as showerheads above her spewed toxic gas. But that was a long time ago.

Ilsa now sits directly across from Tobias. She can tell he cannot recognize her as he carries on with ordinary conversation. Anna senses something is wrong. After the Schwartz family leaves, she asks her mother if there is anything wrong. Ilsa lies and says she simply has a bad headache.

Arriving home, Sebastian asks his son if he knows who the woman. Tobias says he does not. Sebastian tells him to forget he even asked. Later, rummaging through some old family photos he finds one of his father, a priest, and a young woman. The young woman looks familiar. He looks on the back of the photograph and sees his mother’s handwriting. It says, “Fr. Ruehl, Sebastian, Ilsa. October 1935.” He looks at the photo again and sure enough, it is the same woman we just had dinner with. He keeps looking through the stack of photos and sees one of the same woman playing with a small child. The back of the photo reads, “Ilsa and Toby.” Instead of confronting his father about it, he decides to take the photo next door tomorrow.

He knocks. Anna invites him in and he shows her the photograph. Anna is puzzled. Ilsa returns to find Tobias and Anna staring at the photograph. She realizes what’s happened. They ask Ilsa about the photograph. She starts to cry. Life as she knew it is over. She takes Tobias into the kitchen and tells him everything. She has her old neighbors back.

What the Press Would Say:

“Neighbors” is by far one of the most moving, thought provoking stories ever to be put on screen. Mike Nichols directs this film with more meaning and emotion than he has ever put into a film. Why? The answer is simple. He himself is a holocaust survivor, being Jewish in Berlin at the time of the Nazi’s takeover, he was able to escape Germany with his family. The film also has echoes of Nichols’ debut film, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” The acting is also some of the best put down in a story like this since “Schindler’s List,” not to mention one of the greatest ensembles since “The Big Chill.” Mandy Patinkin (Best Supporting Actor nominee, “Bee-Bee’s Funhouse”) brings the character of Tobias to life and has so much emotion invested in this piece that you can almost feel him reaching out and touching you. You completely forget that he is most well known for his portrayal as Inigo Montoya in “The Princess Bride.” Although some may ask why should we give Julie Christie another nomination so soon after “Away From Her,” watching her performance makes it obvious. She gives an absolutely gut-wrenching performance as Ilsa and not only deserves the nomination but also the win. When looking at today’s best character actresses, the name Emily Mortimer can be sure to pop up. She is brilliant as Christie’s oblivious daughter, Anna, and we can be sure to see her pick up her first Oscar nomination, maybe even a win. Her performance, although subtle, is absolutely electrifying. Although she turns in a more minor performance, it’s great to see Debra Winger back onscreen and her remarkable portrayal of Patinkin’s wife, Sara, who befriends Ilsa, is also worthy of a nomination. The best performance of the whole film, though, is given by Joel Grey. Having won an Oscar 35 years ago for his outstanding performance as the chilling Emcee in “Cabaret” (beating Al Pacino for “The Godfather”, mind you) Grey is back in a major role on film after focusing more on stage work. His performance as the Holocaust survivor, Sebastian, is one of the most awe-inspiring performances ever. Nichols also teams up with Tony Kushner, once again. The pair worked on HBO’s adaptation of Kushner’s Pulitzer Prize winning play “Angels in America” which swept the Emmy awards in 2003. One thing can definitely be said about “Neighbors.” There’s never been anything like it and there never will.

Best Picture
Best Director (Mike Nichols)
Best Actor (Mandy Patinkin)
Best Actress (Julie Christie)
Best Supporting Actor (Joel Grey)
Best Supporting Actress (Emily Mortimer)
Best Supporting Actress (Debra Winger)
Best Original Screenplay (Tony Kushner)