John Cassavetes was an excellent film director.  He had a knack for making films that had a realistic style to them.  His films seemed that there was no script, but all improvised to make it that much more tangible.  By doing this his films are forever remembered and you think about them often as if they have imprinted the pictures on your celluloid brain like that of film.

The film, “Minnie and Moskowtiz” was one of John’s later films.  It debuted in 1971 and starred Gena Rowlands (who was Cassavetes’ wife), and Seymour Cassel (Rushmore/Royal Tennenbaums) who play the film’s lead roles.  It is a true LOVE story.

The basic plot synopsis of this wonderful forgotten film is that after a break-up, Minnie Moore, a successful museum curator, becomes disillusioned with dating, love, and men.  So much so that she does not know how to act socially anymore or feel any love for people.  She just goes to work and then home living a life void of LOVE.  That is until she has a random chance encounter with Seymour Moskowitz, a jewish parking lot attendant who after their brief encounter falls head over heels for Minnie.  He tries desperately to get her to love him back.

In the first scene, we see Moskowitz sitting down at a diner by himself eating.  In the booth adjacent to him is a burly scary fellow who happens to be crazy and very drunk who begins to harass Moskowitz by telling him ridiculous stories and even wanting to eat some of Seymour’s food.  Throughout this entire scene, Moskowitz barely speaks and obliges to the lonely man’s request at every turn.  Seymour even offers him money at one point o get him something to eat.   This shows what a kind soul Seymour has and what patience he has.  Even with a complete crazy stranger.

There are a few funny scenes.  One in particular is where Minnie and Seymour’s mothers meet each other for dinner for the first time.  Seymour’s mother is a typical Jewish mother from NY.  Very funny.

I really just fell in love with these two characters on how they just loved each other for who they were, rather not what they did for each other.

Thank you Claire for showing me this film.

If you can find this film, please see it.  I do not think it is available for purchase anywhere unless you want to spend over $50.00.  It is currently on netflix streaming.  See it.