Menemsha Films
In the world of movies, a particular genre that always tries to hit hard is the ‘rescue the problem child’ one, because it usually ends not happily, but in a bittersweet way at least. The very nature of it lends itself to treacly efforts and ‘very special episode’ storylines, and it can be hard to rise above the clichés, even when (and sometimes especially when) the creatives behind it have only the best of intentions.
Tiger Within comes from director Rafal Zielinski and writer Gina Wendkos, starring Margot Josefohn as teen girl Casey, and Ed Asner as old man Samuel. The movie starts off with Casey starting in a new high school, after having gone through seven different school transfers so far. But we also get introduced to Samuel, grumpily feeding birds in a park while we then cut to Casey getting tattoos, then cutting back Samuel getting on a bus.
Casey is living with her mother and her mother’s boyfriend, neither of whom seem that great — Casey’s mother hits her, and then Bill demands Casey get kicked out of the house. The juxtapositions continue as we see Casey at a sort of edge lord rock show where someone spray paints a swastika on her jacket, cutting to Samuel on the toilet. An intentional contrast in their worlds.
Forced out of home, Casey goes to her father’s city and his new family, but accidentally overhears her father’s wife complain about not wanting Casey to join them as a screwed up teen. So instead she flees and ends up sleeping in the Jewish cemetery, swastika on her jacket, where Samuel stumbles across her after visiting his wife’s gravestone. Although at first Samuel is wary, once he realizes how young she is — he offers her free food and some useful life advice.
Although she’s suspicious and stand-offish, she does accept his offer to have a place to sleep after the two bond a little over lunch. Soon it’s revealed that she was raised by a Holocaust-denying mother and didn’t really get what the swastika was all about — she’s taken aback when Samuel informs her he’s a Holocaust survivor himself.
The two become closer as time goes on, and he continues to encourage her to face her fears — taming the titular tiger, despite the dangers, and naturally, it seems that they are helping each other by sharing company — and Casey feels the potential for hope, despite herself. Of course, it’s not so simple and there are pitfalls and problems ahead, and it ends in a bit of an overly ‘message’ way but the journey to get there is pretty meaningful.
Ed Asner is naturally very good in this sort of kind curmudgeonly role and Margot Josefsohn does well in what is her first lead role against Ed Asner’s paternal energy. The movie is exactly how it seems on its surface, a sort of heartwarming tale of an old man and a homeless girl connecting despite their significant differences — and how young people can be easily indoctrinated and helped in turn.
I can’t say this is the next great work of high art, and I didn’t love the ending, which I found a bit manipulative, but it’s a sweet story and a decent example of this genre. I certainly can’t decry its message of anti-hate either, which we certainly need more of these days.
Tiger Within has a run time of 1 hour 38 minutes, and is not rated.
Menemsha Films
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