Yellow

A drama about a drug-dependent substitute teacher who takes control of her life by confronting her estranged family. Featuring wild emotional imagery and tense, profound performances from its star-studded cast. Excluding adaptations and true stories, this is director Cassavettes' first film made from an original screenplay (co-written with actress Heather Wahlquist) since his debut Unhook the Stars (1996). This highly watchable work, an imaginative study of the chaotic life of a woman who cannot come to terms with modern society, could be described as new territory and a second debut for Cassavettes, an established commercial filmmaker. (Tokyo International Film Festival)