The Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Movie Hollywood Wouldn't Make Today
A re-watch of "School Ties" reveals how a once-unthinkable depiction of antisemitism has become chillingly relevant.
Thirty-five years ago, a film crew descended on Worcester Academy, the author's high school, to shoot "School Ties," a movie set in the 1950s. Trailers filled with cameras and costumes arrived before the author's sophomore year, utilizing the school's gym and pool for the film's aesthetic. Some classmates even appeared as extras.
When the film was released the following year, the scenes of rampant antisemitism felt foreign to the author. However, upon re-watching it recently, these elements felt disturbingly familiar.
"School Ties," starring Brendan Fraser, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Chris O’Donnell, tells the story of David Greene, a Jewish high-school quarterback from a working-class family. Recruited to bolster a struggling prep school football team, David is implicitly encouraged by the coach to conceal his Jewish identity. Early in the film, he removes his Star of David necklace, a symbolic act highlighting the movie's direct approach to its themes.
Within hours of his arrival at the school, David encounters classmates using antisemitic phrases and questioning the choice of Harvard over other Ivy League schools due to their perceived high Jewish student populations. When a football game coincides with Rosh Hashanah, David, despite his father's instruction to attend synagogue, prays alone in the chapel. The headmaster finds him there and lectures him about "you people."
Eventually, Charlie Dillon, played by Matt Damon, learns of David's secret identity from an older alumnus. Charlie, who feels supplanted by David on the team, exploits this information, beginning with Jewish jokes and culminating in revealing David's heritage to the school. The film depicts David being subjected to slurs like "kike" and "sheeny bastard." The appearance of a swastika flag with the message "Jew Go Home" over David's bed is presented as a shocking escalation.
The author notes that they grew up during a period often referred to as a "golden age" for Jews in America, with their own prep school class being about a quarter Jewish. This led to an assumption that antisemitism was a problem of the past.
However, the current climate sees antisemitic slurs prevalent in discourse across the political spectrum. Hate crimes targeting Jews have significantly increased, exemplified by the incident where a flag bearing a Star of David and swastikas was displayed at NYU in May.
The author reflects on how Hollywood stars in 1992 were willing to address antisemitism, contrasting this with contemporary figures. The film concludes with Charlie Dillon telling David, "In 10 years no one will remember any of this. But you’ll still be a goddamn Jew," to which David responds, "And you’ll still be a prick."
The author suggests that in today's climate, it is difficult to imagine Hollywood portraying a Jewish character with such a clear moral advantage, citing potential public outcry as a deterrent. The author concludes by noting that the protective bubble of their youth has burst, and their children will not experience the same relative security from antisemitism.