This is one of my favorite movies. Amy Irving shines as the hesitant young woman being wooed by the very appealing Peter Riegert, owner of a pickle store. Her delightful but meddlesome Jewish grandmother, whom she calls "Bubby," is worth watching all by herself and reminded me of my own equally feisty Greek grandmother. Irving lovingly interacts with Bubby but seems resistant to her well-meaning advice. Irving seems to know that Riegert is a nice guy but cannot get past his unglamorous profession. As the story unfolds, their would-be romance is complicated by a writer that Irving meets at the bookstore she works in. The writer, played by Jeroen Krabbe, represents the more glamorous literary lifestyle that Irving aspires to, casting a big shadow over the earnest pickle salesman. Comic relief is provided by the marriage broker, Mrs. Mandelbaum, who tries to get Irving and Riegert together. Keep the Alka-Seltzer handy, though; watching her eat is a horrifying experience. This is a movie I never tire of. Underlying the humor and the uncertain romance is the sense that these are good people and that the strength of family and tradition run deep.
Review of Crossing Delancey
