Fingers

Writing in the very first issue of Video Librarian in March 1986, I said: "Harvey Keitel stars as a gifted pianist torn between his love for music and art and his daily skirmishes with violence--courtesy of his domineering Mafia father, who forces him to collect on 'debts.' An honest, candid portrayal of the brutal psychological struggle for one man's soul, Fingers contains graphic violence, street language, and sexual situations." Shot in a mere 19 days, writer-director James Toback's 1978 debut feature film has become something of a cult indie favorite over the past quarter century. Presented on DVD with a beautiful, color-saturated transfer, and solid Dolby Digital mono sound, the disc also includes a wonderful director's commentary by Toback ("that was my mother who just walked by…a little family nepotism"), and the six-minute featurette "Fingers: A Conversation" with Toback and Keitel discussing independent filmmaking (Toback chalks up some of his success in getting films made to his "impatience with anything inessential"). A controversial film upon its initial release, due to violent and misogynistic scenes, Fingers remains a powerful and thought-provoking character study 25 years later. Highly recommended. (R. Pitman)