Film director and producer Sandi DuBowski showed his multiple award-winning 2001 documentary, "Trembling Before G-d," at Lewis and Clark College on Sunday. A lecture followed the documentary. .
"Trembling Before G-d" starts with a line from Levictius 10:13 which reads: "A man who lies with a man as one lies with a woman, they have both done an abomination: they shall be put to death, their blood is on them." After introducing this passage, "Trembling Before G-d" brings its narrative to the audience with different tales; stories of gay Hasidic and Orthodox Jews whose decision to "come out of the closet" forces them to leave both their families and faith, as well as those who remain both Orthodox and gay (although often closeted). At the center of the film is the question of how one balances their sexuality with a religion and belief system that forbids it. "Trembling Before G-d" was filmed in Hasidic and Orthodox Jewish communities in the U.S. and abroad. This is the first documentary feature to address this issue. .
After viewing the 84 minute documentary, DuBowski spent a half-hour giving his reflections about the film. He said, "I believe that the Orthodox community should not just be more accepting of people with homosexual attractions, but that it should also be more accepting of homosexual behavior." In concluding, he said, "The film was done completely out of a love of Judaism. Let the film open hearts.There's no ideology being served that you have to follow.".
Students had different reactions toward the documentary. Junior biologist William Stone stated: "I didn't like how we didn't see more from the other side of the spectrum? I'm not saying they're right. I'm just saying the audience needs to hear their reasoning -- whether or not it is with merit. Otherwise, what does it say about people on the other side who continue to subject themselves to such abuse and treatment?" Freshman communications major Alexandra Whitton remarked, "I thought the film was very thought-provoking.
