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6.3/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.3/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Younger Generation remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
So, The Younger Generation. Is it worth digging up today? Honestly, it’s a bit of a tough sell for most folks, unless you’ve got a soft spot for really heavy, old-school family drama. If you’re into watching characters clash over tradition versus ambition, and don’t mind a lot of emotional weight, you might find something here. But if you’re after fast pacing, or anything that feels light, you’ll probably bounce off this one hard. It’s a real tearjerker for anyone who ever felt caught between their roots and where they want to go.
Paul Ellis plays the ambitious son, Morris, who just wants to shake off the 'old country' vibe. You really feel his drive, almost a desperation, to fit into a more modern, wealthier New York. He’s always looking over his shoulder, it seems, at what others think.
Then there are his parents, played by Bernard Siegel and Rosa Rosanova. Oh, their faces. Siegel, as the father, has this quiet, almost wounded look that just *sinks* into you. Rosanova, as the mother, carries the weight of a whole generation in her eyes.
The film starts pretty warm, actually, in their humble but lively home. You see the traditions, the food, the tight-knit community. It feels lived-in and real, like a memory.
But then Morris starts making his moves. He meets Carolyn (Virginia Marshall), who represents everything he craves: status, an easier life. And it’s like watching a slow-motion car crash, you just know it’s not going to end well for everyone involved.
There’s this one scene, I remember, where the mother brings Morris a home-cooked meal, his favorite maybe, to his new, fancy apartment. And he just… *can’t* deal with it in front of his new friends. The way she looks, just a flicker of understanding mixed with deep hurt, it’s brutal. You feel it in your gut, the shame and the love all twisted up.
It’s not just big, dramatic blow-ups either. The movie is full of these small, almost invisible rejections. A glance averted, a hand pulled away, a polite but distant tone in Morris's voice. These hit harder than any shouted argument. 💔
The pacing, it’s definitely not for today’s attention spans. Sometimes a shot lingers just a little too long, letting the silence hang heavy. It forces you to sit with the discomfort, with the emotions that aren’t being said out loud.
I found myself really drawn to the parents' quiet suffering. Bernard Siegel’s performance especially. He doesn’t have to say much; his posture, the way he holds his hands, tells you everything. You just want to reach into the screen and give him a hug.
The whole 'social climbing' bit, it feels so familiar even now. People trying to shed their past, their families even, for what they think is a better future. It’s a universal story, really, just dressed in 1920s clothes.
There’s a small subplot, almost a tangent, about Morris’s sister, whose struggles are a stark contrast to his. It shows another side of adapting, or failing to adapt, to the new world. It felt a little rushed, though, almost tacked on.
The ending, without giving anything away, doesn’t tie things up with a neat bow. It leaves you feeling… unresolved. Like life, I guess. Some wounds don't quite heal. You’re left thinking about what was lost, not just what was gained. It’s a bit of a downer, not gonna lie. 😔
So yeah, if you’re up for a serious, emotionally taxing look at family, tradition, and the cost of ambition, give The Younger Generation a go. But maybe have some tissues ready, and don't expect a lot of laughs. It’s a film that stays with you, especially the sad, knowing eyes of the parents.
IMDb 2.8
1915
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