We live in a world which
continues to lay undue emphasis on certain traditions, especially those which
have their roots in religion. Religion
being regressive by nature, its traditions will continue to be in force even
when the world will have evolved far beyond them scientifically and
technologically. Most religious traditions are like the gargoyles erected on
magnificent edifices: they may serve some supposed purposes hideous as they
appear.
A still from the movie |
Tevye, the protagonist of the
movie Fiddler on the Roof, faces the
painful dilemma of having to make a choice between tradition and love. Three of his nubile daughters break the
sacred traditions of their religion by falling in love with men of their
choice. Tevye is shocked and infuriated
each time. He asks his God, Yahweh, what
to do. In doing so, he is breaking a
sacred tradition himself: he is unseating the Rabbi from his sacred position as
the mediator between Yahweh and his creature.
The hotline connection that
Tevye has established with his God helps him understand his situation
better. Each time a daughter of his
breaks a tradition and his heart, he learns the lesson that the heart is far
more powerful than any tradition however holy the latter may be. Love is more sacred than anything else. It is those who never learn that great lesson
that convert religion into a weapon against communities of people.
The Jews were particularly
targeted again and again by people who placed religion and its holy cows above
people. Fiddler on the Roof ends with another Jewish exodus. The fleeing Tevye will ask the Fiddler on the
Roof to join the refugees because metaphorically the plight of the Jews was no
less precarious than that of the fiddler who balanced himself delicately on the
sloping roof.
The movie was produced in
1971. I watched it for the first time in
the early 1980s. I watched it again a
number of times later and wouldn’t hesitate to watch it again if the opportunity
turns up.
What
fascinated me the most is Tevye’s childlike trust in his God even when he
questions that God radically. I lost my
trust in gods long ago. The protectors
of holy cows today widen the chasm between God and me. Tevye is one movie character who remains
deeply entrenched in my consciousness, maybe because his trust in God has
something Romantic about it. It is untouched by the usual contaminations of
religion. Love reigns supreme in Tevye’s
understanding of God, in spite of the traditions of that religion which are
deeply entrenched in his consciousness.
PS. Written for Indispire Edition 119: #Movies
And this is why I look forward to your posts. I was sure you would provide me a movie which I would, for sure, like. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's a classical movie which won a number of awards. You'll definitely love it.
DeleteThanks for the nice words :)
It seems the war between love and tradition has been in vogue from time immemorial.
ReplyDeleteAt least from the time people established certain things as sacred traditions :)
DeleteHi Matheikal.
ReplyDeleteHope you are doing well.
Fiddler on the Roof was a beautiful movie, loved it.
Great review you have written.
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Vee N Ric
Best wishes to you too. I'll visit your blog soon.
DeleteWow that seems like a real nice one.
ReplyDeleteGreat, in fact.
DeleteProtectors of holy cows have no frigging idea about religion. They are just using it as a stick to control.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. Our country has a lot of examples from politicians to godmen.
Delete