During his Academy Awards acceptance speech for “Inside Out,” Pete Docter advised young people who felt scared or angry to “make stuff.”
I thought about how easy it is now to make films thanks to technology. I soon began to think about the 1959 film “Shadows,” which is often called the first major independent American film.
“Shadows” was made largely because director John Cassavetes wanted to make it.
He was teaching an acting workshop and wanted to turn a particular scene into a feature film. He raised the money himself and shot some scenes in his apartment. His passion to make the film can be felt in every frame.
“Shadows” is about three black siblings. Ben is a troubled jazz trumpeter. Hugh is a struggling singer. Their light-skinned sister, Leila, is interested in writing and begins dating a man who thinks she is white. Their relationship collapses when he learns that she is actually black.
This plot would have been out of place in 1950s Hollywood, which did not make many films featuring black characters in lead roles. The fact Ben, Hugh and Leila are three dimensional-human beings and not stereotypes helps to keep “Shadows” timeless.
Leila’s independence is one of my favorite things about her character. When asked who she’s with, she replies “I’m with me.” She is unapologetic about the fact that she has goals and does not care what other people think when she tries to achieve them.
Those goals frequently involve men. There are few scenes of her interacting with other women, but she is still a strong and interesting character.
The dialogue of “Shadows” was partially scripted, but also often improvised. It feels more realistic than the dialogue in most movies. While some of it is dull, these parts are also kind of invigorating because they sound like real people talking.
This film was shot on the streets of New York City, with Cassavetes often not obtaining permits to do so. This location shooting gives “Shadows” a lot of its wild, nervous energy. It also proves the old cliché true that you can make a city a character in a film.
“Shadows” is a great film, but I like the story of how it was made even more than the film. Cassavetes didn’t make this film to satisfy a market or make himself rich. He did it because it was something he wanted to do.
Despite technological and financial limitations, he succeeded in making this film. In doing so, he taught a lot of people that you don’t necessarily need studio backing to make a movie. He showed that drive and passion can be just as important as money.
I think everybody should see “Shadows.” It is dated in some ways, but its existence is a reminder that dreams can come true.
