Sadness at Leaving (1992)

Sadness at Leaving

1992

Synopsis

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.

Credits

Director

Chris Kraus

Cast

George Bartenieff as Hubert Cleaver

Jerome Koenig as Gus Steinermann

Judy Nylon as Melinda (voice)

Larry Gregory as Nat Cooper

Michael Ryan as Col. Bechstein

Paula Greevy as Elise O'Leary

Penny Arcade as Juanita

Richard Hell as Carl Halman