SHADOWS (1959) - ♦♦♦♦

Directed by - John Cassavettes

 

Written by - John Cassavettes

 

Starring - Hugh Hurd, Lelia Goldoni, Ben Carruthers

 

 

 

"The one that kickstarted actor John Cassavetes’ filmmaking career but also the one regarded as starting American independent cinema. In this groundbreaking milestone film, Cassavetes releases all his frustrations at the conventional technical and narrative boundaries of Hollywood cinema by taking the cameras right out of the street, giving way to actor’s improvisation and takes an underground theme like racism and make it look genuine. The film itself has no true narrative structure, but it’s about two lighter skinned black siblings and their parallel lives in New York City. Catching the true feeling of its time, with the gritty look and the jazz soundtrack, this film is a milestone in American cinema history and one in fact that feels as revolutionary as beat writing was to modern literature. The best thing was John Cassavetes himself would outdo himself with his following works."

 

 

Drama, USA