The Chosen is a 1981 American drama film directed by Jeremy Kagan, based on the best-selling book of the same name by Chaim Potok, published in 1967.

At a baseball game between their schools, Reuven meets Danny Saunders, another Jewish teenage boy.

Danny's father, Rebbe Saunders, approves of their friendship, but disapproves of Professor Malter's writings.

After the movie, a newsreel begins and broadcasts the horrors of the concentration camps and the genocide of over six million Jews in Europe; Rebbe Saunders is horror-stricken by this too.

Shortly after this, the question arises of whether a Jewish state should be re-formed in the Land of Israel, where many European Jews have emigrated.

When Professor Malter goes to Chicago for a conference to debate the issue, Reuven stays with Danny's family.

Later, Danny gently breaks the news to Reuven that Shaindel's future marriage has already been arranged, so he can't pursue a relationship with her.

[3] Janet Maslin of The New York Times wrote: "What The Chosen lacks in dramatic excitement, it tries hard to make up for in atmosphere".

[4]We couldn’t get anyone from the very orthodox Hasidic groups to portray these boys [in the film]; some Hasidim had even taken ads out in Yiddish papers urging people not to participate in this movie.