Honors English Thorpe/West (Second Hour's Review) "The Devil's Arithmetic" is heart-racing, historical fiction, stomach churning, and completely sorrowful movie. The movie, released in 1999, stars Kirsten Dunst as Hannah. Who is portrayed as a modern, city-girl who doesn't want to learn about her cultural history until she is forced. Director Donna Deitch does a phenomenal job exploring the plot in an emotional way. Hannah's experience starts by being taken from her Aunt Eva's, played by Louise Fletcher, Seder dinner and transferred back to the beginning of the Holocaust. Along the way she meets Rivkah, played by Brittany Murphy, and many others that help her get back home. For historical fiction, the "Devil's Arithmetic" was wonderful! I would give this film 4 out of 5 stars. I thought that the "Devil's Arithmetic" portrayed the Holocaust very well and very emotionally. The actors chosen for the film did a phenomenal job portraying the characters. The setting was realistic and very detailed. This movie is great at teaching young kids that family and remembering history and your culture is important. I believe that teens and young adults will be able to relate to Hannah's character and her journey. (6th Hour's Review) The holocaust was dreadful, filled with pain and anguish. Jane Yolen is a Jewish author that brought us a thrilling yet sad story, The Devil's Arithmetic, of an ordinary girl remembering the past. Since many of us are way too lazy to sit down and read a book the director took the liberty of making a movie of this fascinating novel.Directed by Donna Deitch, this 1999 filn stars Kirsten Dunst as Hannah Stern, Brittany Murphy as Rivkah, and Louise Fletcher as Aunt Eva. The documentary-like drama follows Hannah Stern, an American teenager who would much rather hang out with her friends then go to her family's Seder dinner, during Passover. She reluctantly comes home late and the family goes to their Aunt Eva's for the celebration. Hannah participates, but is very hesitant to be included in the family's customs. After the traditional dinner and wine drinking, she is chosen to open the door for the prophet Elijah and is transported into another world where she relives the Holocaust as a young Jewish girl in Poland. It is at this time her cousin Rivkah is introduced into the plot and the two experience the horrors of a Nazi concentration camp together. This film was exceptional on many levels. The casting was fantastic! Kristen Dunst and Brittany Murphy really portrayed the characters well. Giving this movie a solid 8 stars, I would recommend that you see it.

davea0511 First of all, remember this is a low-budget made-for-TV show that crams way too much stuff into too little time, suitable for viewing for just about any audience, dealing with the most difficult and harrowing subject matter of the past 100 years through the eyes of a shallow self-centered post-Reagan brat by some cosmic wrinkle in order to set her straight. When you consider all that it's not all that bad and probably a fairly good way to introduce younger children to the subject matter without giving them the nightmares like Schindler's List might do. The weakest performance is that of Kristin Dunst who at times (perhaps more often than not) seems like she's on prozac, and if you can get over that and the simplistic stereotypes then give it a shot. I only wish they had cast someone for the main character who tried harder to connect with her character when she experienced devastating things like being ripped away from her family by time instead of seeming mildly put out - but then part of that was also bad writing due partly I'm sure to time and budget constraints.

Sonya Woods I liked this movie much better than Schindlers List. To me that movie was way too violent. Plus I really like Kirsten and Brittney. It's about this rich girl who doesn't want to celebrate the Jewish holidays with her family and drinks to much wine at her aunt's house. When she is asked to open the door for Elijah she goes back in time to learn about what really happened to the Jewish people. What was really sad was how her character died to save her friend that was sick and was said to be sent to the gas chamber. I think it is very sad what they had to go through. Much worse than what blacks had to go through and you don't hear them whining. I would recommend this movie along with The Diary Of Ann Frank. You won't regret it.

CDavisConvTTU I believe that this movie was well acted as well as well thought out. The Question really is;"How do I tell young people about this terrible tragedy without being to graphic and still holding their attention. I think that the movie answered that question admirably. Kirsten Dunst is a great actress that showed her ability to tell a serious story with a sense of lightheartedness. Let's not forgot Brittany Murphy. She is a highly underrated actress who just barely broke the surface of what she can do in this movie. overall, if your looking to tell/show a group of preteen/teens the story of the holocaust without the brutality then this is the ONLY movie to show them.