Brocéliande

An intimate portrait of actor-writer-director John Cassavetes and a loving tribute to his genius for studying and depicting the human character. In-depth, candid interviews with his wife and muse Gena Rowlands as well as his most trusted friends and co-workers like Peter Falk, Ben Gazzara, Seymour Cassel, etc. Clips from Cassavetes' greatest films, and many rare photos illustrate this touching documentary.

With a heavy haul of 250 kilograms of gold bullion, the grizzled criminal mastermind, Rhino, and his ruthless gang of cutthroats, head to a ramshackle retreat somewhere in the Mediterranean to lay low on a scorching day of July. However, the unexpected and rather unwelcome arrival of the bohemian writer, Bernier, his muse, Luce, along with a pair of no-joke gendarmes further complicates things, as the frail allegiances will soon be put to the test.

A roller-coaster ride through the history of American exploitation films, ranging from Roger Corman's sci-fi and horror monster movies, 1960s beach movies, H.G. Lewis' gore-fests, William Castle's schlocky theatrical gimmicks, to 1970s blaxploitation, pre-"Deep Throat" sex tease films, Russ Meyer's bosom-heavy masterpieces, etc, etc. Over 25 interviews of the greatest purveyors of weird films of all kind from 1940 to 1975. Illustrated with dozens of films clips, trailers, extra footage, etc. This documentary as a shorter companion piece focusing on exploitation king David F. Friedman.

In addition to his work as an actor, John Cassavetes (1929-1989) was one of the great maverick directors of American independent cinema, his key films including Shadows (1958), Faces (1968), A Woman Under the Influence (1974) and The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976). This documentary by Doug Headline reflects on his life and work, through the eyes of key collaborators.

In the public mind, Cyril Collard is famous for one film, Savage Nights. A figure struck down by fate at the height of success, becoming at his death the symbol of that whole generation which is sometimes called the AIDS generation. However seen through the eyes and stories of those who were in close touch with him, what is revealed is the wide range of desires of Collard. The inexhaustible energy of the man who knew he was condemned eight years before he died and who fought to the last. And also the other side of this hunger for life which sometimes made him an exasperating meddler sick with love, sick with loving too much, too briefly or too badly. The portrait of someone who dared show himself nakedly without sparing anyone.