Gloria

John Cassavetes, 1980, USA, 123′. Certificate: 15

John Cassavetes was one of the greatest independent filmmakers of his time and beyond, and his career-long collaboration with his wife, actress Gena Rowlands, one of the very few and rare success stories in the film business. This, joint winner of the Golden Lion at the 1980 Venice Film Festival, is one of the most successful and instantly recognisable films, an absolute American classic about a 6 year old boy whose family is murdered by the mob and finds an unlikely guardian in his no-nonsense neighbour, Gloria. On-screen heroines do not get any grander than her! Best Actress Academy Award nomination for Gena Rowlands in the 1981 Oscars.

The screening of “Gloria” will be preceded by an award-winning short film, “Graffiti”, by local filmmaker, Katy Milner!

Reviews

“…it’s clear from the opening montage that we’re in the hands of a master.” Geoff Andrew, www.timeout.com

“John Cassavetes clearly set out to make a commercial film, but, intransigent personality that he was, he turned in a slice of pure avant-garde” Dave Kehr, www.chicagoreader.com

“The demanding man [Cassavetes] likens himself to the defenseless boy; both are saved by this gloriously burdened woman who would kill for them.” Richard Brody, www.newyorker.com