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John & Nick Cassavetes
John: 1929–1989 (aged 59), Nick: 1959– , USA The father and son of raw emotional cinema.
DIRECTORS
5/24/20251 min read
John Cassavetes is considered the godfather of American independent film.
His raw, improvisational style brought emotional realism to cinema. His films explore love, madness, and human vulnerability, often with a semi-documentary feel.
His son, Nick, continued the legacy, combining indie sensibilities with more accessible narratives. Together, they form a lineage of deeply emotional, character-focused cinema that prioritizes truth over polish.
Essential films:
A Woman Under the Influence (1974, John)
Faces (1968, John)
The Notebook (2004, Nick)
She’s So Lovely (1997, Nick)
