AllMovie

In the talkative Bye Bye Braverman, a foursome of cynical Jewish New York writers drive to the funeral of their friend, a writer named Braverman. Adapted from To an Early Grave, a novel by Wallace Markfield, the film is a clever, fanciful, often morose exploration of success, self-realization, and friendship. The humor is heavily Jewish, drawing on the insular culture of the New York literary world. None of the friends is very happy with his life, and the film is full of complaint. The stars include George Segal and Jack Warden. The film is notable as a stepping stone in the unorthodox career of director Sidney Lumet. Lumet's father was a Yiddish stage actor, and Lumet's familiarity with the cultural territory infuses Bye Bye Braverman with a wry knowingness. This was Lumet's first important film after the acclaimed The Pawnbroker, and, like that film, it has the feel of a cinematic stage piece subtly enriched by Lumet's inquisitive camera.