Silver Jew
by Silver Jews
(Drag City, 52 minutes)
Silver Jew is a poignant snapshot of the Silver Jews' Middle East leg of an inaugural world tour stemming, essentially, from a field of wild strawberries-a symbol of wealth, health and happiness that poet/musician David Berman accepted as a magical "Yes!" to hit the road with his unconventional rock band despite previous pledges to the contrary. Silver Jews once operated on the policy that they would never collaborate, never appear on compilations and never, ever tour. Then Berman sobered up and not only found, but proudly shouted to the rafters his faith in God. In 2005, he converted to Judaism and started a new life with wife/bassist Cassie.
While Silver Jews devotees will likely find more value in director Michael Tully's labor-of-love film than the uninitiated viewer, most music lovers will at least appreciate the band's ability to establish a loyal, far-reaching fan base without previously leaving their backyard. During a live performance of "Smith and Jones Forever" (which Berman introduces with an anecdote of a deceased friend who once misheard the song as "Sit and Jones Forever" while waiting for his dealer), an Israeli crowd bounces up and down to the chorus, singing along, ecstatic in the perfect moment. Later, Berman signs records and meets with members of the crowd. He tells them, "In my whole life I never had the experience of making people happy... I've never been around Silver Jews fans. It's great to see you're excited because I know you mean it."
Berman wears his heart on his sleeve and honors similar vulnerability in others. The mutual admiration and respect between performer and audience helps buffer scenes which border on boring, including a segment in the open-air market in which the camera lingers a little too long on the topic of haggling with local merchants. Of course, such criticisms seem nitpicky considering Jew's ultimate triumph. Tully, whose fly-on-the-wall footage provides an honest perspective of the band's journey, packs one hell of a spiritual wallop to which even died-in-the-wool atheists will surely tip their hats. Watching Berman shed tears at the Wailing Wall provides welcome insight into a somewhat reclusive artist/mad genius whose work tends to mystify fans and foe alike. Jew isn't the most aesthetically brilliant or technically solid documentary, but it certainly presents an intimate and moving portrait of second chance in progress.
Special features: Silver Jew trailer; "I'm Getting Back Into Getting Back Into You," and "Let's Not And Say We Did" videos; Annotated Slideshow JAMIE GADETTE
