Based on Myla Goldberg's novel, it is the tale of a 11 year old girl who became the spelling bee champion that changed the way of life of her family.

Saul Naumann (Richard Gere) is a Berkeley religious study professor who has pretty good control on his family. He is a good husband and a good father to his two children Aaron (Max Minghella) and Eliza (Flora Cross). His wife Miriam (Juliette Binoche) is a career scientist while his son and daughter are good well rounded students. Saul spends a lot of time with his son, teaching him how to play violin and Aaron in turn helps his sister Eliza, with Hebrew lessons.

When Eliza starts to show great talent in spelling bee, she suddenly gets all the attention of her father. He started to teach her about the mystical practices of Kaballah, believing that she is close to being able to communicate with God. He coached her for national spelling bee as well as to become a direct communicator with the God. Eliza shows great improvements in her talents but her success took a great toll on the whole family.

Aaron got hooked up with Chali (Kate Bosworth), a Hare Krishna devotee and started to go for their services. Meanwhile Miriam is in the midst of a mental breakdown. Aaron and Miriam are totally getting detached from the family. Find out more about the plight of this intellectual family.

The co-directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel presents a tale of a father's obsession with the success of his daughter. They some how relates different plots directly or indirectly to one another. They have presented  intelligent but strange people as the characters. The transformation of the philosophical concepts into a vivid logical presentation is a hard job to do and the directors have failed in it.

Richard Gere presents a good performance as Saul. He portrays the confidence of a teacher as well as the anxiety of an obsessed father very well. Flora Cross as Eliza has done justice to her role. As a dedicated student she tries her best not to disappoint her father.

It is a complicated family drama with a serious theme. Spirituality, religion and philosophy are all weaved together to make a family tale. The film starts well but ends up tracing a complicated theme and a boring climax.

We rate this movie AVERAGE.