The Chosen

The Chosen

Year: 1982

Runtime: 108 min

Director: Jeremy Kagan

Drama

Within a gloomy mansion, a young woman's life is upended when she becomes the target of a sinister power. As a malevolent force takes hold, it threatens to consume her completely. She finds herself battling to retain her identity and confront the darkness within before it destroys her soul and those around her.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Chosen yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – The Chosen (1982)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Chosen (1982). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1944-1950

The movie is set during a tumultuous time in history, encompassing World War II and its aftermath. The 1940s were marked by significant social changes, particularly with the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, which played a crucial role in shaping Jewish identity and diaspora.

Location

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York City

Williamsburg is a vibrant neighborhood in Brooklyn, known for its rich cultural diversity and historical significance, especially within the Jewish community. In the 1940s, it was a hub for Jewish immigrants, proudly preserving their traditions and languages while adapting to American life.

🏙️ Urban 📍 Historical

Last Updated: May 26, 2025 at 06:39

Main Characters – The Chosen (1982)

Meet the key characters of The Chosen (1982), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Reuven 'Robert' Malter

Reuven is a smart and resilient 15-year-old who navigates the challenges of friendship and family while coping with the loss of his mother. He embodies a Modern Orthodox perspective and wrestles with the expectations placed upon him by both his father and society.

📖 Intellectual 🕊️ Resilient 💔 Compassionate

Daniel 'Danny' Saunders

Danny is a complex character caught between his aspirations and familial obligations. Despite being a promising scholar with a photographic memory, he struggles with the restrictions of his Hasidic upbringing and yearns for a life of his own choosing, particularly in psychology.

🧠 Intelligent ⚖️ Conflicted 💔 Sensitive

Last Updated: May 26, 2025 at 06:39

Major Themes – The Chosen (1982)

Explore the central themes of The Chosen (1982), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🤝 Friendship

The theme of friendship is central to the narrative, highlighting the deep bond between Reuven and Danny despite their differing backgrounds and familial pressures. Their friendship evolves from rivalry to a source of strength as they support one another through personal struggles and societal expectations.

🕊️ Identity

The film explores themes of identity and self-discovery, particularly through Danny's conflict between his Hasidic upbringing and his desire to pursue a career in psychology. Both characters confront their personal struggles with cultural expectations and familial duties, shaping their paths towards self-acceptance.

💔 Silence and Pain

Silence emerges as a poignant theme, representing both emotional trauma and the complexities of communication between fathers and sons. Danny's upbringing in silence is a vital part of his character development, revealing layers of pain and ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of compassion and empathy.

Last Updated: May 26, 2025 at 06:39

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Bittersweet Coming-of-Age Stories like The Chosen

Stories where finding your own path comes with a mix of hope and melancholy.If you liked The Chosen, you might enjoy these other movies about the bittersweet journey of growing up. This list features thoughtful dramas where characters forge their own identities against a backdrop of tradition, family, and friendship, leading to hopeful yet emotionally complex endings.

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Narrative Summary

Narratives focus on a protagonist's formative years, typically centered on a central conflict between individual aspiration and duty to family or community. The arc involves self-discovery and personal growth, culminating in an ending that feels earned and hopeful, yet acknowledges the inevitable losses and changes that come with maturation.

Why These Movies?

They are grouped by their shared bittersweet tone, moderate emotional weight, and steady, character-driven pacing. They all explore the universal theme of coming of age with a blend of hope for the future and melancholy for what is left behind.

Dramas about Identity and Duty like The Chosen

Intimate stories exploring the weight of tradition on personal identity.Find movies similar to The Chosen that delve into the struggle between personal identity and familial or religious duty. These character-driven dramas are set within specific cultural contexts and explore the emotional weight of tradition with a steady, introspective pace.

thoughtfulintrospectivestrainedatmosphericidentitytraditiondutypersonal growth

Narrative Summary

The plot is driven by the protagonist's philosophical and emotional struggle to reconcile who they are with who they are expected to be. The narrative is linear and focused on dialogue and internal conflict rather than external action, building to a resolution that often involves a difficult, deeply personal choice.

Why These Movies?

They share a moderate complexity and emotional weight, centering on the universal theme of identity formation under pressure. The similarity lies in their steady pacing, atmospheric settings, and the thoughtful examination of how tradition shapes, and sometimes conflicts with, individual growth.

Unlock the Full Story of The Chosen

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Chosen in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Chosen is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Chosen Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Chosen, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Chosen Summary

The Chosen Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Chosen with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Chosen Timeline

The Chosen Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Chosen that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

The Chosen Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Chosen

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Chosen: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Chosen

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