This filmed version of the play was so good I wish I had never seen the other film version. Seeing the play like this, stripped down to a minimal set, the characters so much more earthy in the play then the scrubbed clean movie stars in the film version, was so much more moving than the film version. If you have ever walked through the Lower East Side in NY, you know who these people are. The play gave them humanity beyond the stereotype of outcasts of society. It was beautiful. If you missed it on Broadway this is truly the ONLY next best thing. Had I not seen the movie and seen THIS version first, I would have hightailed it to Broadway to see it live. But maybe this was even better because of the close ups. Best seat in the house!