Wednesday, October 15, 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm
Instructor: Maurizio Giammarco, Ph.D., Temple University
Though he is better known for his roles in THE DIRTY DOZEN and ROSEMARY'S BABY, John Cassavetes’ true impact on film history is as the godfather of American independent cinema. Beginning with Shadows in 1958, Cassavetes’ films employed an actor-centered approach that avoided simplistic psychological or narrative explanations for characters’ actions. Furthermore, Cassavetes rejected traditional Hollywood storytelling, stylized cinematography, linear editing, and star-centered scene making.
No film by this uncompromising director better reflects this approach than FACES (1968), a drama rendered with cinema-verité immediacy about a middle-aged couple’s disintegrating marriage. Intimate and raw, the film is nevertheless suffused with empathy for its characters. Faces was self-financed by Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands, his wife and frequent collaborator. It was filmed with a small cast and crew over several months and locations (including their own home), after which Cassavetes labored in post-production for three years before settling on a final cut. Initial critical reaction to the film was polarized.
However, it went on to gain widespread acclaim, including three Oscar nominations. FACES is now considered one of the most influential works of the New Hollywood movement, affirming Gena Rowlands’ observation, “We gave independent filmmaking a new name.”
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