Gloria

Director: John Cassavetes
Starring: Gena Rowlands, John Adames, Buck Henry, Julie Carmen
Runtime: 122'
Year of Production: 1980
Language: English
Subtitles: Greek

Gena Rowlands is stunning as Gloria, an experienced woman who once had an affair with one of the bosses of the New York mafia. But instead of suddenly coming face to face with her past, as customed, she knocks on its door herself. Just when her neighbors seem to have been targeted by the organization's hitmen. Gloria manages to take their young son and escape with him to Manhattan. Now she will do anything to protect him. This informal adoption could also reflect Cassavetes' unexpected collaboration with the studios. Only it wasn't Columbia that took the Greek-origin director under its wing. It was, instead, Cassavetes who unintentionally adopted a Hollywood film. In fact, although he had written the script somewhat casually, he was not planning to direct it until Rowlands took the lead role. And, since they were married, he said he would do her a favor and give her what she had always sought: a larger-than-life role for a beautiful and powerful woman who never needed anyone. Surrounding this ultimately sweeping character study is an alternative neo-noir set in the less photogenic side of life and New York. Knowing better than anyone the inherent weaknesses of his script, Cassavetes managed to take it and elevate it beyond Hollywood naivety, delivering a film that is at once raw yet tender, unvarnished yet exciting and multi-layered. A sui generis film that emerged from its contradictions. A fortunate accident that, against all odds, went on to win the Golden Lion at Venice and a prominent place on the list of modern classics of American cinema. Thodoris Karamanolis

Free admission with entry tickets, until available seats are filled. Ticket distribution starts 1 hour before the screening.