Marta Kauffman Movies

Director Roberta Grossman and producer Marta Kauffman collaborate to explore the history of the eponymous Jewish celebratory song "Hava Nagila" in this documentary featuring interviews with an entire host of renowned celebrities and musicians, including Leonard Nimoy, Regina Spektor, Harry Belafonte, and Glen Campbell. A ubiquitous tune, it's played at bar mitzvahs, weddings, and virtually anywhere people are having a good time. But where does it come from, and what role does it play in illuminating Jewish history? Grossman and Kauffman seek the answers to those questions and more as interview subjects share vivid memories of the joyous song. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

The meteoric emotional and intellectual development of Hungarian Jewish poet Hannah Senesh coincided neatly with the rapid-fire rise of anti-Semitic racial hostilities throughout Europe during WWII -- thus predestining Hannah for the life and role of a resistance fighter. The attempt that Hannah made to rescue Jews from the grim jaws of the Holocaust may have ultimately proven unsuccessful, but projected astounding nobility, fortitude, and self-sacrifice, and marked one of the only external rescue efforts of its kind mounted specifically for Hungarian Jews. An emigrant to Palestine, Senesh joined a British resistance force known as the Special Operations Executive, or SOE (which trained her as a parachutist), then helped devise a plot to parachute into Yugoslavia and deliver the Jews prior to the pending German occupation. Tragically, when Senesh and two male colleagues reached Yugoslavia, they learned that the Germans had already arrived in Bucharest, prompting the other two to turn back. Senesh marched on unabated, however, and ultimately fell prey to repeated torture and murder at the hands of the Nazis. As narrated by Oscar nominee Joan Allen, Blessed Is the Match marks the first documentary to relay Senesh's story for the sake of posterity. It blends dramatic reenactments featuring actresses Marcela Nohynkova and Meri Roth with recitations from Senesh's letters to her mother, interviews with the other parachutists and with kibbutz members, and a discussion with historian Sir Martin Gilbert -- which collectively etch out a portrait of an indomitable spirit with unfathomable courage. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

In the tradition of past "February Sweeps," this episode of Friends originally ran 42 minutes rather than the usual 30. It is more than enough time for the various plot strands to unfold, beginning with a disastrous bachelorette party for Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow), wherein the male stripper turns out to be a really creepy guy (played by a past master at "creeps," Danny DeVito). Also, Chandler (Matthew Perry) and Ross (David Schwimmer) recall an embarrassing incident from their college days, and, in a sequence currently missing from the syndication print of this episode, Joey (Matt LeBlanc) makes a fool of himself on the TV game show Pyramid (which explains why that series' host Donny Osmond makes a guest appearance). ~ Rovi

Originally running 65 minutes (and later re-edited as two separate programs for syndication), the final episode of Friends finds Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) on the verge of leaving New York for her new job in Paris. Just before the big departure, stalwart "coffee guy" Gunther (James Michael Tyler) lets slip to Rachel that Ross (David Schwimmer) is still madly in love with her. Meanwhile, Mike (Paul Rudd) informs his new bride, Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) -- already the mother of triplets -- that he'd like to start a family. And as Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler (Matthew Perry) prepare to move into their new Westchester home, adoptive birth mother Erica (Anna Faris) gives birth to twins. ~ Rovi

In the concluding half of Friends' ninth-season finale (originally telecast as a single, 75-minute "special"), Joey (Matt LeBlanc) is shocked by Rachel's (Jennifer Aniston) declaration of love during a trip to Barbados. Under any other circumstances, Joey would be delighted, but in this instance he doesn't want to hurt Ross (David Schwimmer), who after all is the father of Rachel's baby. All this changes, however, when Joey catches Ross locked in a hot embrace with Charlie (Aisha Tyler), starting a chain reaction of events which ends in the kiss heard round the world. But before this season-ending cliffhanger transpires, Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) must choose between two suitors, one of whom is currently embroiled in a cutthroat game of ping-pong with Monica (Courteney Cox). ~ Rovi

In this conclusion of a two-part story (originally telecast along with "Part One" as a single hour-long special), Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) gives birth to a healthy baby girl after 21 hours' labor. The engagement ring that Rachel's mom (Christina Pickles) gave to Ross (David Schwimmer) in hopes that he would propose to her daughter ends up in other hands. Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) uses subterfuge to meet her "dream man" (another hospital patient). And in the midst of all the excitement, an aroused Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler (Matthew Perry) sneak off to a hospital closet for some "quality time." This final episode of Friends' eighth season concludes as Joey (Matt LeBlanc) pops the question that fans of the series have been waiting for all year. ~ Rovi

As expected, the eighth season of Friends picked up exactly where season seven left off -- that is, a few minutes after the wedding of Chandler (Matthew Perry) and Monica (Courteney Cox), with Joey (in a WWI uniform for his role in an upcoming movie) serving as best man. Also as expected, the mystery surrounding the pregnancy of one of the female Friends regulars is solved, with Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) turning out to be the one in the family way. It would take a few additional episodes, though, for Ross (David Schwimmer) to step forward as the father of Rachel's child. This plot development, however, did not lead to another wedding. Though Ross and Rachel were about to become parents, they did not see the need to become husband and wife, and in fact, both of them dated other people throughout the rest of the season, with Bonnie Somerville becoming a quasi-regular in the role of Ross' steady date Mona. In the course of season eight, Joey found himself falling in love with the pregnant Rachel, an affection culminating in a proposal at the tail end of the season -- just after Rachel had delivered a healthy baby girl, named Emma. Whether or not this would lead to a lasting relationship between Joey and Rachel was something that would have to be resolved during the next season. Meanwhile, Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) had quite an eventful romantic life of her own, briefly pairing with guest stars Sean Penn (uncharacteristically cast as a nice guy) and Alec Baldwin (more characteristically cast as a well-meaning doofus whose overbearing enthusiasm drove everybody crazy). In keeping with this "celebrity guest" kick, Brad Pitt, husband of series regular Jennifer Aniston, showed up in one episode as one of Monica's high-school acquaintances. Though Pitt received no onscreen billing, his appearance was lavishly publicized throughout the civilized world, and was even deemed worthy of that loftiest of honors -- a TV Guide cover. Two Emmy awards were presented to Friends during its eighth season: the show itself received a statuette, as did Jennifer Aniston for Outstanding Lead Actress. Despite the formidable competition of CBS' Survivor, Friends remained the top-rated program on network television, posting a 15.0 in the Nielsens. ~ Rovi

Season eight of Friends begins just after the wedding of Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler (Courteney Cox). Though this neatly ties up a loose plotline from season seven, there's another strand still dangling, namely: is Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) pregnant? A comedy of errors results in the misapprehension that virtually every one of the female "Friends" is pregnant except Rachel -- and there's quite a scramble to determine the identity of the father (or fathers). In other developments, Chandler's too-tight shoes cause him trouble during his first dance with Monica; Joey (Matt LeBlanc) tries to use his speech as best man as an audition for a big Broadway role; and Ross (David Schwimmer) has an interesting interlude with one of Monica's co-workers. Originally slated to air on September 20, 2001, this episode was moved back to September 27 due to ongoing network coverage of the 9/11 tragedy; indeed, the episode is "Dedicated to the People of New York City." (Note: Christina Pickles' appearance as Monica's mother is considerably larger in the DVD version than in the original broadcast version, in which her lines, and her billing, were cut.) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single hour-long episode), the gang continues to imagine what their lives would have been like had they made different choices. In this "alternate reality," Ross (David Schwimmer), still married to Carol (Jane Sibbett), enters into a ménage à trois with a very familiar third party. Also, Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler (Matthew Perry) hit it off despite the fact that Monica is overweight and still a virgin. And Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) carries out her fantasies with famous soap opera star Joey (Matt LeBlanc). ~ Rovi

As indicated by its title, this is the 100th episode of Friends. It is also the episode in which Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) finally gives birth to the triplets she has been carrying on behalf of Frank Jr. (Giovanni Ribisi) and his wife, Alice (Debra Jo Rupp). While the gang anxiously awaits the arrival of the "replacement" obstetrician, Joey (Matt LeBlanc) experiences sympathy pains (or is it pangs?) along with Phoebe. As the big moment arrives, Phoebe makes a momentous decision. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Using Chandler's (Matthew Perry) new computer, Ross (David Schwimmer) draws up a list of plusses and minuses to decide between Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) and Julie (Lauren Tom). Joey (Matt LeBlanc) and Chandler try to help compile the list, and guess what happens next. Elsewhere, Monica (Courteney Cox) goes to work for Mockolate (that's chocolate without chocolate). Comic actress Mary Kay Place (Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman) directed this episode. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Ross (David Schwimmer) feels left out of his ex-wife Carol's baby-making process in more ways than one. Monica (Courteney Cox) tries to impress her parents with the world's cleanest apartment. Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) learns the fate of Barry (Mitchell Whitfield), whom she left in the lurch at the altar (and who doesn't seem too distressed over the humiliation). And Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) reveals that she has a twin sister, a "high-powered, driven, career type" (thereby "explaining" Kudrow's recurring role as Ursula the waitress on Mad About You). Watch for the first appearance of Gunther (James Michael Tyler) at the Central Perk. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi