In the ten years since his death, recognition of John Cassavetes’s significance has grown steadily—a recognition that often eluded him in life. Time has made apparent the unique figure he cut across the American cinematic landscape, both through his methods and his brilliantly iconoclastic works. Cassavetes’s dedication to the pursuit of his highly individualistic brand of filmmaking opened new roads of possibility for filmmakers disenchanted with the Hollywood Dream Factory. His debut feature, Shadows, is credited with nearly single-handedly sparking the American independent film movement, and his pioneering example of self-financing and self-distribution have become standard practice for many. The roster of filmmakers who have overtly acknowledged a debt to Cassavetes includes Martin Scorsese, Sean Penn, Tom Noonan, Rob Nilsson, and many others. Most significantly, Cassavetes left behind a staggeringly rich body of work. Devoted to the "small feelings" society at large so frequently attempts to suppress, the films continue to startle, surprise, and move us, challenging not only our assumptions about what a movie is but our deepest understanding of ourselves.