Bittersweet Place (2005)

Stars:

Seymour Cassel, Elisabeth Moss, Michael Esper

This is a beautiful film -- honest, provocative, sad, funny and completely original. The acting is superb -- Seymour Cassel gives a memorable performance, as does Glenn Fitzgerald in a pivotal role as Moishe. The writing is extraordinary, subtle, fresh and deeply felt -- a very special film. Alexandra Brodsky gives us a great first feature and tells the story of relationships (and the people in them) desperate to rise above their own limitations. It also contains several poignant love stories, wonderfully rendered and heart-wrenching. The film has a great look to it . . . and you feel like a quiet observer of their lives in the same way that one discovers characters slowly in a Mike Leigh film. Amazing . . . and lovely.