Love Streams (1984)

The film describes a few days in the life of the writer Robert Harmon and his sister Sarah. The decadent life of Robert is made of alcohol, cigarettes, and short-time relationships with ... See full summary »

Director:

John Cassavetes

Writers:

Ted Allan (play), Ted Allan (screenplay),

Stars:

Gena Rowlands, John Cassavetes, Diahnne Abbott

4 wins.

Cast

Credited cast:
Gena Rowlands	...	Sarah Lawson
John Cassavetes	...	Robert Harmon
Diahnne Abbott	...	Susan
Seymour Cassel	...	Jack Lawson
Margaret Abbott	...	Margarita
Jakob Shaw	...	Albie Swanson
Eddy Donno	...	Stepfather Swanson
Joan Foley	...	Judge Dunbar
Al Ruban	...	Milton Kravitz
Tom Badal	...	Sam the lawyer
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Julie Allan	...	Charlene
Doe Avedon	...	Mrs. Kiner
Frank Beetson	...	Cashier
Neil Bell	...	The Dog Man
Gregg Berger	...	Taxi Driver

Storyline

The film describes a few days in the life of the writer Robert Harmon and his sister Sarah. The decadent life of Robert is made of alcohol, cigarettes, and short-time relationships with women; women he interviews for a book, he spends a weekend with at a casino or fall in love with for the fun of an evening. Having no constraints, he his unable to be responsible for anything including the care of his son, leaving him alone in an hotel room and teaching the 12-years old boy how to drink. His life is made of his own phantasms as an artist. His sister is divorcing from her husband because of her exuberant and insane behavior. She scares her daughter Debbie who prefers to stay with her father, a decision that hurts Sarah very deeply and reinforces her nervous breakdown. Most of the movie takes place in the house of Robert. We watch Robert and Sarah struggling with their own lives. As the movie progresses, the house gets empty little by little...

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Plot Keywords:

written and directed by cast member | brother sister quarrel | brothers living together | brother brother relationship | brother sister relationship | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 August 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Amantes

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cannon Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

141 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jon Voight originated the role of Robert Harmon in the stage play and was originally slated to reprise his role in the film, but left the production due to scheduling conflicts and "creative differences" with Cassavetes.

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Goofs

(at around 1h 40 mins) The camera crew can be seen clearly behind the taxi when Sarah brings the animals home to her brother.

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Quotes

Robert Harmon: Love is dead. Love is a fantasy little girls have.

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Connections

Referenced in King Kongs Faust (1985)

User Reviews

Amazingly unique film

This is a late great work of a master director. It is one of the most original films I have ever seen, though Cassavetes work was mostly improvised and so always had a spontaneous and creative feel. Love Streams is so good because it is the work of a highly creative mind at the height of his talents. It is haunting in its depiction of an unusual brother and sister and their love for each other and for family (in the case of the sister played by the great Gena Rowlands in a beautiful, though at times scary, performance.) More than anything it is a study of the meaning of love itself. The look of the film and the editing alone make this one worth watching.