The Films of John Cassavetes

GOMA’s Australian Cinémathèque is set to captivate film lovers with The Films of John Cassavetes, a landmark retrospective of the actor, director who introduced a new kind of realism to American cinema, from July 3 to August 29.

Beginning his career as a charismatic actor in Hollywood, Cassavetes went on to write and direct feature films. His films capture, in compelling immediacy, the challenges of everyday life and are suffused with deep wells of empathy for his wonderfully flawed characters.

The program presents all 12 of his feature films as a director, from his directorial debut Shadows 1959 shot on location in New York with a hand-held 16mm camera, to the unflinching emotional depths of A Woman Under the Influence (1974).

Curator, Rosie Hays says “This film program is a unique opportunity to see the evolution of his filmmaking from early acting roles through to his ground-breaking directorial works.”

The program features over 20 films, many presented in rare 16mm and 35mm prints sourced from film archives around the world.

This is a unique opportunity to see the rarely screened gems, particularly, those which highlight Cassavetes’ creative partnership with wife Gena Rowlands. Independent cinema’s first power couple, Cassavetes wrote and directed roles specifically for Rowlands, who turned them into some of the most compelling and powerful performances ever captured on screen.

Cassavetes’ influence runs deep through modern cinema, having inspired countless filmmakers from Martin Scorsese to the Safdie Brothers.

Don't miss this rare chance to experience one of cinema’s most uncompromising voices on the big screen!

Need to know – the Box Office opens one hour prior to screenings. Stock up on snacks and refreshments from the candy bar before you take your seat. 

Tickets: Adult: $10; Concession/Student: $9; QAGOMA Member: $8

QAGOMA is a valued parner of Must Do Brisbane.com

Film Captions - top to bottom:

Production still from A Woman Under the Influence 1974 / Director: John Cassavetes / Image courtesy: Faces Distribution Corporation

Production still from Husbands 1970 / Dir: John Cassavetes / Image courtesy: Park Circus

Production still from Shadows 1959 / Dir: John Cassavetes / Image courtesy: Faces Distribution Corporation

Production still from Edge of the City 1955 / Dir: Martin Ritt / Image courtesy: Roadshow Films

Production still from Minnie and Moskowitz 1971 / Director: John Cassavetes / Image courtesy: Universal Pictures Australia