Watch Bye Bye Braverman

Bye Bye Braverman is a 1968 comedy-drama film directed by Sidney Lumet and stars George Segal, Jack Warden, Joseph Wiseman, Sorrell Booke, and Jessica Walter. The film follows four Jewish intellectuals, friends since their college days, who come together for the funeral of a mutual friend. The movie begins with the death of Braverman, a minor author who was known to the main characters. The four friends, who are now middle-aged and have drifted apart over the years, come together to pay their last respects at his funeral. The characters include Morroe Rieff (George Segal), an intellectual writer; Barnet Weinstein (Jack Warden), a successful and talented talent agent; Felix Ottensteen (Joseph Wiseman), a neurotic and insecure academic; and Holly Levine (Sorrell Booke), a doctor with multiple health problems.

As they gather for Braverman's funeral, they begin to reminisce about their past and what has happened to them over the years. They talk about their present lives and discuss their hopes and dreams for the future. However, as they reflect on their friend's death, they start to confront their own mortality, and their discussions turn to the things they have not yet accomplished in their lives.

Throughout the movie, the four friends are often interrupted by their own personal issues and conflicts that they’re going through. These issues create an obstacle in terms of their character growth and only make their worries worse.

As the funeral progresses, the friends find themselves getting lost and delayed on their way to the cemetery in Brooklyn. They get off the subway in the wrong location and need Barnet to rent a car so they can get to the service. On their way, they encounter several obstacles, causing them to lose their way and leading to a series of misunderstandings and arguments that threaten to tear their friendship apart.

As the journey continues to the cemetery, the friends try to come to grips with the fact that their friend is really gone. They talk about their relationships with Braverman and with each other, and they begin to understand their own sense of mortality. They reminisce about their deceased friend, his personality, his quirks, and his passion for his art.

The film may have been considered progressive at the time of its release, as it features a cast of complex Jewish characters. The movie tackles themes such as friendship, individualism, and the search for meaning in life. It explores the joys and sorrows of aging, loss, and change, and it captures the pressures and expectations faced by middle-aged men trying to make sense of their lives.

The cinematography and the music in the film are also worth mentioning. The visual style captures the bustle and variety of New York City in the 1960s, and the accompanying score reflects the mood and character of the story.

Overall, Bye Bye Braverman is a moving and insightful film that explores the complex emotions, relationships, and experiences that shape our lives. Lumet's direction, combined with the terrific performances of the cast, creates a charming and authentic portrait of a group of friends who realize how much they've grown apart over the years.