This is a warm, emotional and at times wise picture about friendship. It’s documentary film-maker Claudia Weill’s first feature, although there’s no reason to apologetically pigeonhole this movie as a ‘promising first feature’. It’s the work of a technically skilled and assured director.
Melanie Mayron is outstanding as a photographer fresh out of college maturing under the strains of professional insecurity and loneliness.
Down the line Weill has extracted first-rate performances. Anita Skinner is Mayron’s best friend and until she suddenly marries Christopher Guest, her room mate. Eli Wallach portrays a rabbi and almost paramor for whom Mayron sometimes photographs Bar Mitzvahs and weddings. Bob Balaban is Mayron’s slightly off-center boy friend and Viveca Lindfors is Beatrice, owner of a Greenwich Village gallery who believes in Mayron and gives her a big break.
Each performance is a little gem and so are the characters developed by Vicki Polon from a story by her and Weill. They look and act like people, which is a relief. There are no false touches of glamour.
