By Richard Sowada
“I love American independent cinema, and so much of it has had an impact on my life,” says Richard Sowada. “It has influenced my career, my approach, the language that I use, and my personal style…that is, if I have any at all! Some of these films may not seem independent in their scale, but most certainly their approach went well outside of the expectations of those who commissioned them.”
MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969)
“For those who know me, the inclusion of this in the Essential Indies programme of the festival is no surprise. This was the first film that made me cry, and when moving from Sydney to Perth in the 80s, it was this film that made me choose a Greyhound bus to do it.”
APOCALYPSE NOW (1979)
“I saw this on its initial release with the lead singer of Radio Birdman sitting in front of me – which was a buzz! Francis Ford Coppola’s masterwork was just such a powerful influence on me – it made me look really deeply into that era, and the kind of filmmaking from that period.”
TRASH (1971)
“One of my early cinema memories was experiencing a twelve-hour Andy Warhol marathon at a flea-pit arthouse cinema on George St. in Sydney. Those twelve hours were something else altogether – those films were like something I’ve never seen…and I think it was the first time that I ever saw an erect penis on the screen.”
DARK STAR (1974)
“John Carpenter and Dan O’Bannon’s masterwork of low budget science fiction. It was and still is an inspiration of how to achieve so much on so little. The lift-shaft sequence is always a pleasure to watch. Sooo much fun.”
TAXI DRIVER (1976)
“Do I need to write anything about this film? It has as much power today as it did then, and back then…sweet Jesus…this was something amazing to see on the big screen. So much style.”
Essential Independents: American Cinema, Now runs from May 17-June 8. For full programme information, dates, tickets, venues, and sessions, head to Essential Independents: American Cinema, Now.
Pssst. Pretty sure that Dark Star was ’74. ;)