Wrong. Marshak says something before that. Something like “When everything you thought was true turns out to be wrong, and all your hope is gone, what then?” Then, as the son looks like he’s still high, the rabbi simplifies his discussion by saying “be a good boy”

But then again, they do tend to be kind of smug, sometimes, and I can understand how that irritates some folks. And their stand-off style, which examines everyone from a cold distance, contributes to it as well.

One thing that delights me about all the talk about this film is how many people really seem to be cluing (clueing?) in to what the Coens were up to, and not writing it off (or celebrating) it as a nihilistic, minsanthropic joke. It would be so easy to do that, and I’ve certainly seen that reaction, too, but it’s really gratifying to me that this most difficult of Coen films is really being engaged with on its own level. The Coens refuse to talk down to their audience, and too often they’re regarded as hateful, unserious snobs because of that. Somehow, though, this film has really connected with a lot of people, and I love that.

Again, great job.