MovieChat Forums > The Pawnbroker (1965) Discussion > A very draining film (maybe minor spoile...

A very draining film (maybe minor spoilers)

posted 9 years ago by stewie-3
2 replies | jump to latest

I just finished watching The Pawnbroker for the first time tonight. I'm worn out from it. I don't mean that in a bad way. It's a brilliant film. It's just not an easy one to watch. In some places, it's downright unpleasant. You have all this pain, ugliness, and intensity going on in the film and especially with Steiger's character, with none of the standard Hollywood tropes to provide a release for the viewer. There's no Hollywood ending, no silver lining or bittersweet moment, no moral victory. I can only think of a couple of other films that have left me feeling this way.

Great, great film. But I probably will wait a long while before I watch it again.

You are the naked angel in my heart.

[–] davidlrattigan 8 years ago

Yes, it was a very bleak film, but very effectively done.

[–] jennysayquaw 8 years ago

I agree that it was a bleak film, but at the end Nazerman did have feelings again. I think being depressed would be better than have no feelings at all.

* Who is Keyser Soze?*