We're excited to present the curation for the month of October at Hyderabad.

This month, we're celebrating the works of director John Cassavetes – the progenitor of the American Independent Cinema movement.

Cassavetes's films were characterized by an actor centered approach and are widely known for their improvisational style. They focused more on the interpersonal relationship between the characters, over traditional Hollywood-style narrative structures.

Throughout his career Cassavetes frequently collaborated with major acting stalwarts like Gena Rowlands (his wife and muse), Ben Gazzara and Peter Falk. Almost exclusively working outside the studio system, his films are a treasure for cinephiles interested in the history of cinema, and independent filmmakers looking for inspiration. 

While we would’ve loved to screen and discuss his entire body of work, we have selected 4 films we believe encompasses the ethos of his filmography.

Shadows (1959)

Cassavetes debut, this film sets the tone for the idiosyncratic, cinema verite style he would become known for.

Shadows depicts the life of three siblings of African-American descent that live on the margins of society. One of the earliest films to talk about everyday lives of African-Americans, according to the American poet Lewis McAdams, the film was shocking to the audience of it's day because it turned the “concept of race upside down".

A Woman Under the Influence (1974)

Starring the exceptionally talented – and perhaps one of the greatest actresses to grace the silver screen – Gena Rowlands.

A Woman Under the Influence examines the life of Mabel Longhetti (played by Rowlands), a housewife on the verge of a nervous breakdown and her family’s struggle to save her from herself. Gena Rowlands and Peter Falk give unforgettably harrowing performances as a married couple deeply in love but unable to express their ardor in terms the other can understand.

The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976)

Following up his success with A Woman Under the Influence, The Killing of a Chinese Bookie is Cassavetes's foray into the gangster film genre.

A character study of its grinning, self-estranged protagonist, Cosmo (Ben Gazzara) – a small-time, rough-around-the-edges businessman. Cosmo is forced to come to terms with himself when his gambling addiction gets him in hot water with the mob.

Husbands (1970)

Hated by the likes of Pauline Kael and Roger Ebert upon release. This polarizing comedy-drama is a work that Cassavetes considered to be one of his most personal, having written it film after his older brother died. It follows three middle class, middle aged men going through a midlife crisis following the death of a close friend.