Fiddler on the Roof

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Reflection Paper “Fiddler on the Roof ” is a 1971 American musical comedy-drama film produced and

directed by Norman Jewison. It is an adaptation of the 1964 Broadway musical musical of the same name. The film centers on Tevye, the father of five daughters, and his attempts to maintain his Jewish religious and cultural traditions as outside influences encroach upon the family's lives. The film portrays an enriching description of the Orthodox Jewish lifestyle in any moments and themes. I was a little confused on the title of the film for I don’t know what to expect or to watch. The beginning of the film was fantastic and great and it didn’t di sappoint me sappoint me until the end. I jumped into conclusions and expectations expectations about the film but it gave me a new perspective in the end. After watching this wonderful movie, there are things that came up in my mind and tried to reflect and manifest into it. There are many lessons and facts that I got while watching and understanding the movie. Tradition is very important to a family especially e specially if your family belongs to a group or community. Traditions are the ways of thinking, behaving, or doing something that has been used by people in a particular group or in the case, a family. It is an old way of thinking of what they know or the things that are thought to them throughout years and generations. In the movie, Tevye respects the traditions of their family and the Jewish culture for it keeps their family values and as a sign of respect to their culture and for them to show as a part of Jewish community. Tevye ensures that they have a healthy and centralized relationship among the members of the family. Although sometimes, things change, improvements are made and I think there’s no problem with that at all. I’ve seen in some scenes that other traditions we’re not followed by the people. For example, the marital traditions of the Jewish culture. The daughters of Tevye did not follow the marital traditions of their culture.

Traditions may be a mainstream for us now living in the current century but for me, traditions stabilize you and forms you as a true person with moral and understanding. As Tevye said, the world is changing so he must go on with it. People may grow and change but traditions are always there to remember and guide you in your future. As Tevye said, “Without it [traditions], our life would be as shaky as the fiddler in the roof.” There’s nothing wrong in growing, but always remember where you started and where we came from and how we can take the knowledge, wisdom and experiences transmitted to us from generations afar to live a life more beautiful - and more meaningful. Our parents know the best for us and they want our lives and future to be perfect and well-shaped. Parents’ involvement makes us f eel support from them, being disciplined in all aspects, having confidence towards ourselves and feeling motivated. Parents should have a special bond with their child and should build a strong relationship. Just like Tevye and Golde, they supported their daughters no matter what. They wanted their children to become happy and they gave it by giving their full support at the wants of their children. They prioritized happiness over anything. Maybe our parents have different unique styles on how to show their support to us as their child, but still they have this one goal, and that is to make us happy regardless of the things that interferes it. Tevya learned that love is more important than tradition. He realized that you can’t control love. Love cannot be forced between two people. He learned that once two people fall in love, nothing can stop them from being together. The heart wants what the heart wants. He learned to trust his first two daughters. He knew that traditions are the ways that things should be done but sometimes, you also have to ignore those traditions since every one of us change and for the sake of something. It was hard for him to accept it at first but he definitely decided to understand the choices of his daughters. It was also tough for him to balance the traditions and the realities of their lives. His daughter said that the world was changing, but Tevye said that some things must stay the same

in the world. He wanted to stay in his own world and raise his daughters the way that he wanted them to grow up, which was as Jews and in Jewish tradition but the world would not let him for the world changes. Fight for freedom and equality is also shown for the daughters of Tevye fought for what they want and what makes them happy. Also, the film shows how the Jewish people have a strong relationship and faith with God for they show a consistent devotion to God by praying reverently and performing a worship service together as a community. They keep their devotion and connection with God stable and strong. The idea of Orthodox Judaism is shown in the movie for they follow the old traditions of the Judaism culture. They follow all the rules and regulations cited by the Jewish community; for example, observing the Sabbath Day strict and accordingly the Orthodox law like prepare everything necessary by sundown so that they will not be required to work or even cook the next day and the mother lights the candles and the elders of the family begin the prayer . But somehow it became Conservative Judaism wherein they still follow their old traditions but not as strict as it is in Orthodox Judaism for in Conservative Judaism, they try to balance their old traditions at the same time their new perspective and opinions in their tradition and the realities of lives. Indeed, the film Fiddler on the Roof gave me a great introduction and background on Judaism. The film certainly gave me conclusions but came up with a concrete perception in the end. The film strengthened my knowledge more about Judaism and its different traditions, cultures and beliefs. The film is undoubtedly superb and great and there are life lessons that surely you can use in your everyday living as a believer and a human being.