One would think that a subject so universal to mankind (and womankind) by its very nature must be simple. While, or shall I say, whilst, it may be the most analyzed of subjects, it certainly is not the simplest. The poets have written about it since the beginning of civilization and the scientific community has studied it ad nauseum and most of us still do not understand it. We feel it if we’re one of the fortunate, but I daresay, we don’t always understand it.
I love Loving Leah for many reasons. In the opening scenes we are placed in the middle of diversity. Diversity that is almost palpable. Not an uncommon scene; two brothers with dramatically different chosen paths, one an Orthodox Rabbi, the other a Secular Cardiologist. Diversity. My review truly isn’t about the movie; it’s about us, and the world we live in today. I realized that while we think diversity is about Muslims and Jews, Republicans and Democrats, or Protestants and Catholics, it truly is just about humanity. It can be about the rich and the poor or the educated and the uneducated and yes, it can be about black and white. Truly strange, if you think about it, no one is truly white and no one is truly black, they are just names, names designed to put down or elevate, depending on where you are on the spectrum. Names created to divide…diversity. Reality is, there are many sects within each of the major religions of the world. Even Christianity has denominations too numerous to mention, but they are there, with their differences, some subtle, some not so subtle.
So, now back to Loving Leah, one of my top two romance movies I’ve ever watched. In full disclosure, I will say that it was one of the original Hallmark Hall of Fame Movies. I love Hallmark in general for championing clean entertainment, but this one is truly a cut above. Firstly, the stars were not used over and over again, as is currently done with the Hallmark “mill.” I don’t want to disparage their efforts because I still believe they hold up against mainstream TV, but they are “churned” and usually with the same cadre of actors as in the early Hollywood Studio days. Loving Leah is just different; there actually is a back story—a story about culture, devotion, brotherly love, and yes, romantic love.
Two brothers, Jacob and Benjamin. Jake is a single, successful doctor who can’t remember the last time he went to temple. Benjamin, a devout Orthodox Jewish Rabbi. Leah, Benjamin’s wife from a (semi) arranged marriage. Diverse but reasonably happy. Brother Benny dies and up crops tradition. An ancient custom asks the single brother to marry the widow without child or denounce his brother’s existence. That’s all you get! The rest you have to watch the movie to see. It’s easy to find. If all else fails, try the Library. Trust me, you’ll love it, it’s witty, it’s funny, it’s eye-opening. While writing I realized that love is not immune to diversity, it is the champion over diversity. Whether its love thy neighbor or love the love of your life, love is love. Down deep, it sometimes brings hurt, sometimes brings sorrow, but if you persevere, it almost always brings joy. As always, I invite your comments at Carolyn@carolynhastings.co
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