20 Things You Didn't Know About A Serious Man

1. ''I Don't Want Santana Abraxas!!''

A Serious Man Michael Stuhlbarg
Owen Sweeney/AP

One of Larry's recurring problems in the film lies with his son's unplanned subscription to Columbia House Records. During a rather heated argument with one of the employees, he states that he doesn't want the album ''Abraxas'' by Latin rock band Santana.

This could be interpreted as Larry rejecting religion and/or God's will since Abraxas is an archaic term of Greco-Roman origin that refers to an entity that encompasses or is superior to both the Judeo-Christian God and Devil. The story behind the album's title may also be a reference to Larry's simultaneous disillusionment with his faith as well as his desire to seek refuge and answers in it.

The mention of the album's name is an anachronistic error on the Coens' part as the album was released more than three years after the film's setting. Despite this, it has unexpected thematic relevance to the film's narrative.

Contributor

David Ng'ethe hasn't written a bio just yet, but if they had... it would appear here.