Finding Forgiveness – Tiger Within

Jul 9, 2023 by Two Sues On the Aisle

By Sue Weston and Susan Rosenbluth –  Two Sues On The Aisle

Isolation and the desire to belong bring together the two unlikely protagonists in Tiger Within. Casey (Margot Josefsohn) a mad-at-the-world 14-year-old high school dropout from a broken home with a neglectful mother, turns up in Los Angeles where Samuel (Ed Asner) an elderly holocaust survivor finds her sleeping in a cemetery.

The pair form a unique bond, Samuel, though afraid, repulsed by the swastika spray-painted on her jacket, offers her a meal and a place to stay. It is his way of taming his inner fears. Casey distrustful of his motivations belligerently accepts.

Samuel explains that everyone deserves to belong to a loving family, it can be your birth family or your choice. And Samuel chooses Casey.

Plot Summary

Perspective is shaped by one’s individual life experiences. Casey did not have a traditional family. She was raised by an alcoholic-single mother with a string of aggressive abusive boyfriends and is starved for love. Samuel lost his love of life, with the recent death of his wife. His life involved going to shul and visiting the cemetery.

Before meeting Casey he was a grumpy old man marking time. He sees something worth saving in Casey. He discovers her ignorance, taught by her mother, a Holocaust denier.  Her outfit was just her way to fit in. Samuel fills in her knowledge gaps. Casey learns the Holocaust was real and concentration camps existed. Slowly her punk exterior softens as a result of Samuel’s affection and support.

Samuel sees Casey’s potential, looking beyond her tough exterior there is a scared child who believes that everything comes with a price. But, Samuel is the exception, he provides her food, and shelter, asking for nothing in return.

By supporting her he keeps the promise to his wife, “to forgive all before he dies”. He asks few questions, allowing Casey to gradually re-enter society as a naive 14-year-old, with a first boyfriend and first kiss.

The Tiger Within shows that love when it is shared unconditionally has strong healing power, while love withheld can create a breeding ground for hate.

Creative Vision

Tiger Within is a wonderful story about finding common ground written by Gina Wendkos (The Princess Diaries, Coyote Ugly). It is broadly based on the Buddhist belief that in forgiving we have to forgive ourselves as well as others. It is a form of unburdening ourselves from the pain of the past, and we are able to become light and free and move on.  As Wendkos comments

‘I don’t feel a filmmaker should be a spokesman for any particular point of view – more a mirror for the audience to reflect their thoughts and in the process – hopefully provoke, inspire, and illuminate, but I do feel the power of forgiveness and faith embodied in all religions of the world can serve as a healing force with the potential to bring all of us closer together and make the world a more peaceful place.’

In preparing for this film Director Rafal Zielinski researched forgiveness by interviewing numerous thinkers and religious leaders, starting with Rabbi Yitzchok Adelstein of the Museum of Tolerance, who felt the film would inspire meaningful discussion and encouraged it to be made.

We believe he was correct. The Tiger Within shows a child challenging hatred. Casey experiences kindness from a stranger, an old man, and a Holocaust survivor who believes in the goodness of others. Their connection melts your heart. More importantly, it refutes the lies of Holocaust deniers and Jew haters. The impact of their senseless brutality opens Casey’s eyes. She realizes how her life changed since meeting Samuel, she could easily have been part of this violence had she stayed in Ohio.

Showing violence is necessary to convey the dangers presented by neo-Nazis and Holocaust deniers, a frightening phenomenon of misinformation is manifest in hate. A 2020 study found that “Almost two-thirds of young American adults do not know that 6 million Jews were killed during the Holocaust” This film was made with them in mind, it offers historical context while encouraging compassion.

Amazing Performances

The superb casting made the film relatable. Asner was authentic in his portrayal, connecting with his roots, the child of Orthodox Jewish immigrants raised in Kansas, his mother was from Russia, and his father was from Lithuania. Down to the mannerisms, Asner is an old Jewish man, whose life was incomplete. His acting is incredible, Tiger Within turned out to be Asner’s final on-camera role. He passed away on August 29, 2021, at 91.

Asner paired perfectly with Margot Josefsohn who made her film debut in Tiger Within. Josefsohn is utterly believable, bringing raw and honest acting of a 14-year-old-playing a 14-year-old. Josefoshon discovers along with her character a connection between an angry teenager and a Holocaust survivor.

Well Played

The Tiger Within shines hope on our ability to connect, to find strength in our differences, and acknowledges the need for acceptance. Two lives intersecting by chance, empowering each other to tame their inner tiger, finding solace, and support. Casey connects with her estranged father and Samuel with his deceased wife.  The tragic ending provides a spark of hope for the future shown in pictures, allowing the viewer to complete the story.

Tiger Within opens July 7^th in select theaters across North America, with a simultaneous release on Video-on-Demand on digital platforms.

*******

Two Sues on the Aisle bases its ratings on how many challahs (1-5) it pays to buy (rather than make) in order to see the play, show, film, book, or exhibit being reviewed. 

Tiger Within received a 4 Challah rating

Runtime 98 minutes