Film

Sadness at Leaving

1992 · 20m

Following the erection of the Berlin wall, special agent Carl Halman is assigned by East German intelligence to move to New York where he’ll “sleep” as a writer until he is called. Using the code-name “April 23,” Carl successfully infiltrates the uptown-downtown literary world in 1950s New York. He edits a magazine, follows the Knicks, and marries Melinda, the socialite wife of best-selling jock novelist Hubert Cleaver, Ayden’s hilarious Norman Mailer pastiche. Through Carl’s eyes, we see New York City change from an outpost of Europe to the new capital of an anarchistic, post-ideological world. But then, when Carl least expects it, he’s called.

Richard Hell

Carl Halman

Rosemary Hochschild

Melinda

George Bartenieff

Hubert Cleaver

Larry Gregory

Nat Cooper

Penny Arcade

Juanita

Paula Greevy

Elise O'Leary

Jerome Koenig

Gus Steinermann

Judy Nylon

Melinda (voice)

Michael Ryan

Col. Bechstein

• Chris KrausDirector · Producer · Editor
• Chris KrausWriter
• Ann RowerWriter · Producer
• Erje AydenNovel
• Boo TrundleProducer

Release date

January 1, 1992

Status

Released

Original language

English

Runtime

20m