Review of Old Movie--Return of the Secaucus Seven

Challenged by a colleague's remarks that Return was an earlier and better version of Big Chill I watched it with some fascination and curiosity but didn't make the connection until I looked at the special features and heard John Sayles describe the making of this seminal "Indie" for 
$60 thousand shot in 58 days on 16mm then enlarged to screen projector format. Chill was rich with what Return couldn't afford: name actors, costume coordination, sophisticated camera work and professional musical score. Sayles admits they were all learning as they went, and in many ways the viewer can observe the progress. Of course scenes were not shot in order but some are clearly the product of on-set development.
Just as Chill involves some departure from earlier sexual mores
Return's discussion of the group sharing makes you wonder if they
all had the same STDs and got a group price on meds. Mind plagued until the credits--it's Gordon Clapp from NYPD-Blue.
Incidental trivia: Clapp was born in North Conway NH where
Return was filmed.

Quick and Dirty--watch in connection with Big Chill. Better film?--
up for grabs--better story?--same answer. But Return as a documentary on the history of indies--unquestionably