Husbands (1970) (Blu-ray) (UK Import)

The trailblazing independent auteur John Cassavetes pushes his raw, uncompromising emotional realism to its limit in this unflinching portrait of masculinity in crisis. Cassavetes joins Ben Gazzara and Peter Falk—both of whom would become key collaborators of the director’s—playing a trio of middle-aged Long Island family men who, following the sudden death of their close mutual friend, channel their grief into an epic, multiday bender that takes them from Manhattan to London in a desperate, debauched quest to feel alive. By turns painfully funny and woundingly perceptive, this “comedy about life, death, and freedom” (as its tagline stated) stands as perhaps the most fearless, harrowingly honest deconstruction of American manhood ever committed to film.

Specials

New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
Audio commentary from 2009 featuring critic Marshall Fine
New interviews with producer Al Ruban and actor Jenny Runacre
New video essay by filmmaker Daniel Raim featuring audio recordings of actor-director John Cassavetes discussing his approach to working with actors
The Story of “Husbands”—A Tribute to John Cassavetes (2009), a half-hour program featuring Ruban, actor Ben Gazzara, and cinematographer Victor J. Kemper
Episode of The Dick Cavett Show from 1970 featuring Cassavetes, Gazzara, and actor Peter Falk Trailer English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing PLUS: An essay by filmmaker Andrew Bujalski

Rezensionen

Lexikon des Int.​Films: "Ein faszinierender Film über Menschen, die mit sinnlosen, unreflektierten Aktionen den Realitäten des Lebens entfliehen wollen.​ In seinen dichtesten Szenen spiegelt der Film berührende Augenblicke menschlicher Wahrheit.​"
Heyne Filmlexikon: "Schonungslos ehrlich.​ Ein Buddy-Movie der ganz besonderen Art.​"