Independent Cinema

Every ten minutes a woman dies from not having access to a safe abortion-Upworthy. Dutch physician Rebecca Gomperts treated women who had gravely injured themselves trying to induce a miscarriage in countries with restrictive abortion laws. The misery, the suffering, the death was so disheartening when just beyond their grasp, these women could have been in safety with non surgical medical abortions if they had only been given access. How Dr. Gomperts finds a solution to this global issue that is also threatening to become an issue in the US is the subject of the incredible documentary 'Vessel.'

Olympia Dukakis has stated that the Greek Civil War was one of the worst civil wars in modern Europe. "Tens of thousands of innocent people were accused of being enemies of the state and found guilty of crimes they never committed." They were thrown into concentration camps and brutalized. Why have you not heard of this? Events have been politicized and kept hidden. Until now.

Vivan Amsalem will obtain a divorce. Elisha Amsalem will not allow her to divorce him. If this were America, there would be no problem. It is not. It is Israel in a Mizrahi Orthodox enclave where there is no separation between church and state. Orthodox rabbis are judges and they help to determine whether a Gett (divorce), can be decreed. But even their power is limited if a husband does not want to grant his wife a Gett.

We all felt frightened and alone and in need of comfort after 9/11 whether we had loved ones nearby or not. I think we all went through that. I did certainly.

The piece really is about what happens after 9/11 on September 12th and the days after that, and what is happening in the city at that time.

Eric places an online ad in the Village Voice for a roommate to share his spacious Soho apartment in Manhattan that overlooks downtown. It is September 10, 2001. What happens the next day is legend. What happens to Eric during his roommate search after he and others are allowed to return is a roller coaster ride of emotions that will make you laugh and reflect with hope.

Daniel Burman's "The Mystery of Happiness" is in sync with his very solid body of work. The director and actors craft an intriguing film replete with humor.

Feels like a sillier version of Seven, but "Poker Night" is good enough to warrant at least a rental.

At the New York Jewish Film Festival, the documentary "Natan" profiles one of France's most brilliant entrepreneurs and innovators in the film industry.

Sometimes people have to do things that are courageous and even controversial in order to stimulate conversations about checks and balances that are the lifeblood of democracy.