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Suzie Gold

By Richard Brecker in London on January 27th 2004

A pretty twenty something Jewish girl is expected to marry a nice Jewish boy or break her parents‘ heart. Although her sister and all her friends are managing and indeed revelling in the dream, daytime TV show runner Suzie Gold is discovering there is more to life than a family who love her but do not really understand her or know what inspires her, what makes her tick, and ultimately what makes her happy. When daytime TV show senior researcher Darren comes along and rocks her world (and the office photo-copier in the process) she is confused and so concerned not to upset her parents that she lets their assumption that he is the plumber pass without saying anything when they meet him at her north London palatial home for the first time.

The humour and subject matter reminded me in many ways of the well received "Leon the Pig Farmer" and Jack Rosenthal‘s TV classic "Barmitzvah Boy" and should generate a similar word of mouth buzz with audiences at the Screen on the Hill in Belsize Park and other north London cinemas which could spread wider.

Indeed the story is one with I could well identify - been there, done that and almost finished the screenplay myself - lol - after going out with someone who was not of the faith while we both worked as researchers on a well known daily television programme. She went on to marry one of the most famous media personalities of the century while I went on to... therapy. But enough, already, so soon.

I particularly liked Iddo Goldberg as the drippy kosher caterer Anthony Silver who is the ideal husband for Suzie Gold (Summer Phoenix) - at least in the eyes of Suzie‘s doting and devoted parents Irving and Barbara Gold (Stanley Townsend and Rebecca Front).

Respect also to Gem Souleyman as the black music loving teenage brother Toby Gold who was totally convincing.

Strangely, I thought Summer Phoenix, sister of the late River Phoenix and "Gladiator" star Joaquin Phoenix, as the lead Suzie Gold, although stunningly beautiful and attractive, was not as mesmerising or funny as I desperately wanted her to be in such a strong role.

Stanley Townsend who played her mourning father Irving had me dabbing the eyes with my handkerchief at the post-Shiva scene talking about the death of his mother Sadie (played by the ever dependable Miriam Karlin) and there were also moments of genuine humour, nicely crafted lines and other scenes of poignancy and pathos stylishly captured by director Ric Cantor from Rebecca Green‘s story. They deal well with the issues of religion and family and the struggle to uphold tradition and expectation in the secular cosmopolitan melting pot that is London. But what chance does Suzie Gold stand? There are just 250,000 Jews in the UK with a population of around 60 million.

The juxtaposition of Hampstead Garden Suburb ostentatious wealth and suffocating family closeness contrasted with the more down to earth background of Darren (soundly played by Leo Gregory) was cleverly executed.

But, at times, the cliché moments were perhaps a little laden and I felt Rebecca Front as Barbara Gold and Frances Barber as friend Joy Spencer slightly over-egged their lockshen pudding of a performance.

Instead of asking for Suzie Gold‘s hand in marriage at her sister‘s wedding, maybe sharp suited Anthony Silver would have impressed her more (or less) by word playing on a well known Jewish favourite potato dish and paraphrasing Kylie Minoque‘s Pete Waterman hit with a serenade of "I should be so latke, latke, latke latke"... Then again, maybe not.

So, "oy", why nit-pick ? I wish them a hearty Mazeltov, or if you are from Darren‘s non Jewish neck of the woods, Congratulations. "Suzie Gold" is a nice idea (shades of West Side Story with fish balls instead of fist fights, salt beef instead of stabbings), it brings up some new faces to the screen with some comfortable older ones and hey, these guys have done the hard part - come up with a screenplay, got the finance, cast the movie and are now getting it seen.