A depiction of the struggle of three siblings (who are 'passing') to survive the mean streets of Manhattan, 'Shadows' was Cassavetes' jazz-scored "improvisational" film exploring interracial friendships and relationships in Beat-Era (1950s) New York City. Made from a script supposedly improvised (it was in fact well rehearsed in a NY studio for weeks before shooting began) by a talented cast, Shadows marks a vital new era in independent filmmaking.