The NewFilmmakers series that screens every Wednesday at the Anthology is showcasing a great crop this time around (May 14). First up is Mathematically Alive, a documentary about the relationship between the Mets and their fans. It's a very good doc that puts a very human face on the sports realm by following Mets devotees/lifers and attempts to show the motives behind a fan's devotions and livelihood. If baseball is your thing (and lord knows I love me some baseball), AND you're a Mets fan, Mathematically Alive is the perfect blend of the two and will hopefully repair some of the mental damage that without question you, said Mets fan, suffered during the conclusion of the '07 season.

The two features being presented are House of Women (2007, 78 minutes) and So Close (2007, 72 minutes). House of Women, by Aaron Lehman, focuses on Henry Hardy's assimilation back into home-life after being exposed to the urban way of life and how the negativity and degredation he experience while on the 'streets' influences his views on humanity as a whole. Family problems arise and he is forced to choose between accepting the selfish and evil ways of people, or believing in the hope that people can be good-willed and positive.

So Close follows a similar theme of humanity-down-the-drain (artsy dramas always do). This one, by Michael Sexton and Rob Fruchtman, zeroes in on the story of Claire and her tumultous marriage that began with a teenage romance and a premature pregnancy. It's adapted from a play and mixes various formats, including documentary, narrative, and theatrical elements, to make one great, invigorating sorrow cocktail.

Details and precise scheduling can be found here.