Witnessing the astonishing rate at which small, independent businesses were (and are) disappearing in New York, was one of my primary motivations for returning to my family business and helping to make sure that Russ & Daughters continues. For Virginie Alvine Perette, a lawyer turned filmmaker, it was the motivation to make a film.

I had the pleasure of meeting Virginie one day several years ago when I noticed a young woman filming in front of the store.  Now, after a five year labor of love Twilight Becomes Night has hit the screens. Twilight Becomes Night is a short film that examines the widespread closing of independently owned businesses in New York City and the significant impact this transformation has on the people who live here. But it also dares to ask the question,”Is the neighborhood store worth saving?”

Over the next several months, Twilight will be shown at screenings all over the city.  Venues ranging from The New York Public Library, various community boards, the Columbia School of Architecture and Urban Planning to the Film Matters series are showcasing Twilight as a wonderful catalyst for conversation and reflection on a topic that affects all New Yorkers. For a thought provoking 35 minutes, check out the film’s website at www.twilightbecomesnight.com to find out more about screenings near you.

- Niki Russ Federman

On a related note: in last week’s Time Out New York, the “Essential New York” issue, Russ & Daughters was featured alongside a few other independent and family-run businesses in New York Is Independent: Nestled among nationwide chains and cookie-cutter development complexes, these indie shops find ways to survive and surpass.