Husbands (1970) - Performance

There was a period when I watched almost only documentaries for about a year, no narrative films, no acting, no written dialogue.

Then I happened upon Mike Nichols' Carnal Knowledge and John Cassavetes' Husbands. I've spoken before and will return to Carnal, so I'll leave it there for now.

Specifically regarding Husbands, we need to start with Cassavetes himself. Top 10 all time important American directors. Top 5 all time important indie directors. My opinion. You want French New Wave in America? Cassavetes was doing the true indie thing as early as the 50's. True indie. He put in his own money. He made movies with his friends.

He was first and foremost an actor. He made actor's films, shot actor's scenes, placed the camera for the actor.

This man, his wife, his friends, his team, they were unreal. Brave. Passionate. Vocal.

It comes across on screen. Husbands is not an easy watch. I don't watch it often. It's heavy. It's raw. It's honest, in a different way. Their being is different, the actors. Their performance is hardly that. It's more of an experiment, a journey. This film is its moments. The story matters. The "end" matters. But somehow it's the body language, the silences, the tones of the actors that are the true plot, dare I say, it's the performances. Well done.

Be well.
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