A Constant Forge

"The Life and Art of John Cassavetes"

Apr 13 2007 Not Rated 3h 20m
Biography, Documentary, Romance

One of the great mavericks of cinema, John Cassavetes has earned a reputation as the godfather of American independent movies. The actor-turned-filmmaker invented a realist style of unadorned narrative films heavily influenced by documentaries. This in-depth analysis of Cassavetes' life and work features interviews with key collaborators and ensemble regulars, and explores the making of classics like "The Killing of a Chinese Bookie," "Opening Night" and "A Woman Under the Influence."

Plot

A long look at John Cassavetes's films, life (1929-1989), and exploration of how people love. The documentary is composed of Cassavetes's words spoken by an off-screen narrator, clips from his films, photos and clips of him on and off the set, and family, friends, and colleagues talking about his films and what it was like to work with him. The movie explores his focus on emotion, the way he drew out actors, his collaborative process, his energy and joie de vivre, his serious purposes, and the meaning and lasting impact of his work: how adults behave, interact, and seek love rather than how a plot works out.

Written by

Charles Kiselyak

Directed by

Charles Kiselyak

Cast

Seymour Cassel, Carol Kane, Jon Voight

Crew

View crew

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

The Criterion Collection

Languages

English

Awards

N/A

Scores
# of Votes
533
Average Rating
7.4 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA