MINNIE AND MOSKOWITZ
US, 1971, 115 minutes, Colour.
Gena Rowlands, Seymour Cassell, Val Avery, Tim Carey, Katherine Cassavetes,
Directed by John Cassavetes.
Minnie and Moskowitz is a film written and directed John Cassavetes. He has made such films as Shadows, Too Late Blues, Faces. He went on to make Husbands and a Woman under the Influence. His wife. Gena Rowlands. features in many of his films. So do many of the Cassavetes' and the Rowlands' families. In this film Minnie says the films set us up. She says they condition us to think of life as glamorous and that problems are solved at the happy ending. While the film has the happy ending, its characters are not glamorous. They are eccentrically ordinary. John Cassavetes focuses on his characters' faces, exploring their personalities in the details of their expressions and their conversations. Some of the sequences in this film are outstanding for this, hilarious but compassionate. Gena Rowlands and Seymour Cassell are memorable as two people whose story does not really amount to very much at all but whose troubles and happiness are everything.
1. How attractive was this film, how enjoyable? What was the purpose of making the film, what audience was it made for?
2. The detailed focusing on two characters? The structure of focusing on each, then bringing them together? What impact, how effective?
3. The importance of the film's style: the emphasis on realism, improvised dialogue, close-ups of the characters? The self-contained nature of many sequences, interesting and humorous episodes building up characters? A focus on characters and types? The role of monologues, the quality of dialogue? especially with the improvisation? The success of these techniques?
4. How interesting and likeable was Seymour Moskowitz? As first seen at his work in New York, what kind of man was he? His kindness, irritability, eccentricity? Going to see Bogart? The nature of his work and ambitions? Money? His love of cars? A lot of talking? His hippy appearance? The fact that he was getting older?
5. The insight via the encounter with the man in the cafe? The reciting of poetry? Seymour's buying him a meal? This as an indication of the atmosphere and way of life of Seymour? The New York atmosphere?
6. The change of atmosphere in California and way of life? Seymour's getting the money from his mother? California as the fulfilment of a dream? A goal for Seymour? What did he hope to achieve?
7. The first presentation of Minnie? How attractive? what kind of a woman? Her artistic work? Her going to see Bogart? (The different approach to that of Seymour). Her comments on films and real life? Her enjoyment of talking? Her relationship with Florence? Their drinking at how together? Happiness and unhappiness?
8. The importance of the encounter between Minnie and Jim? The insight into Minnie's emotional approach to life? Her dependence on men? Jim and his cruelty? Jim’s visit to the library and bringing his son? What insight into Minnie’s crisis did this encounter offer?
9. Minnie's date with Zelmo? His incessant talking? The manifestation of his needs? The development of this character even in short sequences? The impact on Minnie?
10.Minnie and Moskowitz coming together? Fate? His gallantry, the punches, taking Minnie off in the truck? Their impressions of each other?
11.The effect of Minnie on Moskowitz? Love and pushiness? Depression? Excitement? Erratic behaviour?
12.The effect on Minnie in terms of fear and embarrassment? Her inability to cope? The importance of the sequence with the Hendersons? The fight? The change of attitude of Minnie?
13.The progress of relationship to marriage? How credible? Were the two compatible? The two mothers? How enjoyable was this sequence? The Jewish background of Moskowitz and the Jewish mother? The WASP background of Minnie and Mrs. Moore?
14. The humour of the wedding? As a culmination for the film? The party and the hope for the future?
15. What would happen to Minnie and Moskowitz after the film? Would they have a happy life together?
16. What insight into men and women did the film offer? How valuable the insights?
17. The picture of American society? The various details and their nuances?
18. Insights into the nature of love and loneliness? The theme of hope and human nature? How particularly American was this film? Impact in America, on non-American audiences?
