without question and film be a powerful medium and more so now than ever before and due to the accessibility of dvd or video and which give the filmmaker the added assurance that his story or message be go to be see by possibly million of people . use of this medium and therefore and attach an innate responsibility to the artist and inasmuch a film can be educational and as well a entertaining and which dictate that certain subject should be approach accordingly and with a corresponding sensitivity and sensibility . a film like spielberg ` schindler list and for example and be important and in that it keep alive the memory of that which must not be forget and and a history tend to repeat itself and spielberg film can be view a a valuable tool in prevent a recurrence of that tragedy . in that same vein and this film and ` focus and direct by neal slavin and be important and in it illuminate the problematic reality of anti semitism and which for year beyond number have affect million of people and be still unimaginably prevalent today and and like any manifestation of bigotry and will perpetuate itself if leave unchecked or ignore . bear of a xenophobic strain and it a disease infect society which and unabated and could be terminal while and with it penetrate insight into the condition and this film be an effective vaccine that just may at the very least help stem the proliferation of it and and hopefully may act a a step toward eradicate it altogether . lawrence newman ( william h. macy ) serve his country in the great war and and have since live a quiet and conventional life in new york . he have the same job a a personnel director for some twenty year and and own the house and locate in an average and middle class neighborhood and in which he live with his mother ( kay hawtrey ) . lawrence be the kind of guy who get by just fine by mind his own business and refuse to involve himself with matter that be not ( he feel ) his concern . all of that be about to change and however and a with the advent of world war 2 and lawrence and along with the owner of the corner market and mr. finkelstein ( david paymer ) and inexplicably find himself a target of the neighborhood xenophobes and who have align themselves with the ` union crusader and a national organization currently take to channel their fear and hatred upon jew and or anyone who even ` look like a jew . and suddenly lawrence find that he can no longer just stand on the sideline and watch the game be play while because now and he be the game and whether he want to be or not . work from an intelligent and well write screenplay by kendrew lascelles and which he adapt from arthur miller novel and slavin present a chill scenario that incisively examine the effect of bigotry upon those against whom it be level while and when one consider the fact that this be not merely a hypothetical situation and but a depiction of reality and it become all the more disquieting and even unnerving . and what make the film so effective be slavin obvious grasp of his subject and and his studied presentation and which be think provoke in it subtlety . in the opening scene and slavin establishes lawrence ` character and and very soon afterward reaffirm it in another scene and which afford the audience the opportunity to observe and assimilate how lawrence mind actually work while the thought process that direct his life . with that in place and then and slavin be able to take his audience along with lawrence a his problem gradually begin to unfold . by so do and he effectively illustrate how the problem evolve and rather than merely state the problem and address it head on and which heighten the viewer emotional involvement and and ultimately enhance the impact of the film . slavin make an important statement with this film and which be not only an indictment of bigotry and but carry a cautionary message about apathy and as well . and to his credit and he never hit you over the head with it or engage in subjective finger point to make his case while instead and he proceed carefully and take great pain to be as objective a possible with all that he be submit for your consideration . his approach be that of a cinematic diplomat while and it an approach that serve slavin and his film quite well . a lawrence and william h. macy one of the best character actor in the business give an amazing performance and establish the credibility and believability of his character with a sensitive and honest and introspective portrayal . he never attempt to circumvent the personal flaw of lawrence nature and but use them and instead and to create a character that be decidedly three dimensional and which not only make him convincing and but serve to reaffirm the integrity of the portrayal . what make it so compel be macy ability to convey the process by which he examine his own conscience and which successfully enable the viewer to share in the experience of his personal epiphany . in the final analysis and it the strength of macy performance and more than anything else and that make this film so significantly distinct . another of the film strength be the performance turn in by laura dern and a gertrude hart and a portrayal that effectively complement macy work and as well a that of slavin . dern lend tremendous substance to her character and capture her physically as well a emotionally and and her colorful zeal crate a striking contrast to lawrence reserve that work extremely well and for her character as well a the film itself . and just a sean comb recently ( in ` monster ball ) make a good case against dismiss out of hand the acting endeavor of an establish ` rock star and meat loaf aday give a powerful performance here and a fred and lawrence next door neighbor . it demonstrate and too and that a true artist will produce and regardless of the kind of canvas he give to work with . the support cast include michael copeman ( carlson ) and kenneth welsh ( father crighton ) and joseph ziegler ( gargan ) and arlene meadow ( mrs. dewitt ) . the kind of film that make a filmmaker proud of his craft and ` focus and offer a memorable experience that hopefully will prove to be enlighten and as well and to those unaware that such condition have exist and and still do even in this and the land of the free . positive . .