shadow breathe the smell of new york street like no film before it . this kick off of cassavetes directorial work be as atmospheric a political and the initial spark for a renewal in american cinema . maybe it solicit for watch cassavetes first work in a double feature with another debut and godard à bout de soufflé . both film shape the cinematic production of their country beyond decade and both breathe a peculiar lightness and jauntiness which be later rarely achieve by those filmmaker in their career . shadow tell from three afro american sibling and ben ( ben carruthers ) and lelia ( lelia goldoni ) and hugh ( hugh hurd ) . the story be set in the new york jazz milieu and the driving rhythm on the soundtrack play a main part for the feverish and sometimes almost dreamlike atmosphere which draw through the entire film . there not much happening in the plot . the everyday life of the three sibling be define by problem in love relationship or in their job and but on both level normality deceive . without moralize gestus and cassavetes simply describe the mechanism of racial exclusion and in public and in private life . it be and regard to the cinematic depiction of racism and a breakthrough film in the u . this film owe also a lot to the performance of the three lead actor which be all almost completely unknown before . especially ben carruthers establish with his energetic portrayal the image of a new self conception of young and urban black in america and an image which characterize spike lee film of the 80 and 90 . revealingly and none of those three doubtlessly extremely talented actor be able to start a big career afterwards . hollywood wasn not and isn not ready to ethnically expand it star system and and that be why goldoni and hurd and carruthers only find small artistic niche in tv and independent film later on . perhaps shadow be one of the less beautiful film ever shoot and and one of the most beautiful one at the same time while a film of shade and space and with a camera that merely watch the stream of life in the crowded street corner and bar and hotel lobby and apartment and induce an intriguing ramble through new york vibrant street .