I thought the film was very good but somewhat overrated. Don’t get me wrong, I liked it, but with the way everyone I know has been raving about it I was expecting something spectacular. (I watched it in ulpan without subtitles, so maybe that’s part of the problem.) I also had the same objection as The Wolf. Sure, there’s a big difference between $380 and $900, but even so, I think the husband acted extravagantly. I admire his intent and rush to do a mitzvah as perfectly as possible, but for the level of poverty in which they found themselves, it would have been much wiser to buy a less expensive etrog and save the money for basic necessities. I also wondered why he didn’t consult his wife before purchasing the etrog; after all, the money belonged to both of them! Quite rightly, she was shocked when she learned what he had done.
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