Other Titles • The Cemetery Club • Looking for a Live One (1993)
Synopses for The Cemetery Club (1993)
1.
Three Jewish widows meet on a regular basis at the cemetery where each has buried her husband. But talk about faux Jewry: The widows are played by Olympia Dukakis, Ellen Burstyn, and Diane Ladd. One is uptight, one is fun loving, and one is confused--and each is coping with the notion of starting a life with a new man. But only Burstyn is actually out there trying to begin anew, with the formulaically lovable Danny Aiello. Her romance drives a wedge between the friendship, but you won't care too much because the comedy (based on a Broadway play by Ivan Menchell) is so wan that it's almost nonexistent. And there's nothing these three veterans (or director Bill Duke) can do about it. --Marshall Fine
2.
Director Bill Duke followed up the critical success of A RAGE IN HARLEM and DEEP COVER with this unexpected and daring choice. Duke is an African American director who has always refused to be pigeonholed in his choice of material. THE CEMETERY CLUB was only the first example of Duke defying Hollywood stereotypes to direct a project that did not involve African American actors or themes. Three elderly Jewish widows form the eponymous club, and Ellen Burstyn delivers a wonderful performance in the lead role. The well-directed film is based on a play by Ivan Menchell, investigating a romance between two older people (played by Burstyn and Danny Aiello) with an honesty and sensitivity rarely brought to such subject matter.
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