This segment is a tribute to the work of the pioneering independent film-maker and actor , John Cassevettes. The panel consists in Cassevettes widow' Gena Rowlands to whom he was married thirty- five years, the actor Ben Gazzarra, the film-maker and student of film- history Peter Bogdanovich. The occasion is the bringing up of a set of five of Cassevettes films on DVD.
The whole discussion is a moving one. Rowlands appears troubled, still in grief. Rose treats her with a grace and understanding which is truly commendable. Gazzarra talks about his friend's great independence, and the freedom he gave actors. He talks about how the third in the group that played in one of Cassevettes most well- known films, Peter Falk always wanted more specific direction and wasn't given it. Cassevettes as a director expected his actors to know their role and how to play it. There are scenes from 'Shadows' the first film, and from a few others. The admiration and love of the panel for Cassevettes is clear. He was a pioneer .
I never much understood his films perhaps because I was looking for a more coherent narrative and story. Also there is a tremendous amount of emotionality and disturbance in the films, wild improbable characters, reversals of feelings. They can be very moving at times.
The whole discussion is conducted by Rose with sureness and sensitivity. His ability to really know the work of other people, to appreciate it, to show an awareness of what they may be feeling make him in my opinion, the number one interviewer I have ever seen.
