The Great New Wonderful is a 2005 drama film directed by Danny Leiner and written by Sam Catlin. The movie is set in New York City in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and features five interconnected stories of people trying to cope with their lives. The first story revolves around Avi (Naseeruddin Shah), a successful Indian-American psychiatrist who is struggling to adjust to life in his new office after being displaced by the attacks. He is also dealing with issues in his personal life, including a strained relationship with his daughter, Rehana (Judy Greer).
The second story follows a middle-aged woman named Emme (Maggie Gyllenhaal) who is trying to start a bakery business with her husband, Danny (Tony Shalhoub), but is haunted by memories of her past as a suicidal teenager.
The third story focuses on Safarah (Edie Falco), a corporate executive who is struggling to find meaning in her life and is drawn to a troubled young girl named Allison (Caroline Aaron).
The fourth story is about Judy (Olympia Dukakis), an elderly woman trying to cope with the death of her husband and the challenges of living alone in New York City.
Finally, the fifth story follows Sandie (Jim Parsons), a young man struggling to come out to his conservative family and dealing with a difficult relationship with his boyfriend, Davie (Thomas McCarthy).
Overall, The Great New Wonderful is a poignant and thought-provoking film that explores the themes of loss, grief, and the search for meaning in a post-9/11 world. The ensemble cast delivers powerful performances, and the script skillfully weaves the different stories together to create a cohesive and emotionally resonant whole. While the film is at times dark and melancholy, it ultimately leaves the viewer with a sense of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
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