The Directors of UNCUT GEMS Break Down the Intense School Play Scene in the Film

If you’re a fan of Adam Sandler’s critically acclaimed film Uncut Gems, you’ll want to watch this video in which directors Josh and Benny Safdie breakdown one of the intense moments of the film. The scene they discuss is the intense part of the story that is set during a school play production. What begins as a night out with the family turns into complete chaos for Sander’s character.

Here’s a not that came along with the video:

The setting of this scene from “Uncut Gems” is a school production, but the real drama is in the audience. The lead character, Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler), a jewelry store owner, has recently acquired a rare gem, but he’s also accumulated some debt along the way. In this scene, during a school play he’s attending with his family to watch his daughter perform, some not-so-nice men have come to collect on that debt. In their narration, the directors Josh and Benny Safdie discuss how they use a shoulder-tap gag to create a fearful moment, shifting the tone of the sequence and heightening the stakes exponentially in a matter of seconds.

I enjoyed this film, and it’s a shame that Sandler was subbed by the Academy. If you haven’t seen the film yet, you should check it out! If you have seen the film and want some additional insight, check out this video!

The setting of this scene from "Uncut Gems" is a school production, but the real drama is in the audience. The lead character, Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler), a jewelry store owner, has recently acquired a rare gem, but he's also accumulated some debt along the way.