Film
Drama
Classic
Comedy

Classics: California Split

What's on

Country

United States

Year

1974

Language

English spoken, no subtitles

Director

Robert Altman

Duration

108 min

Subtle character study about the pursuit of happiness, about freedom and loss, and about the price of escapism. A forgotten gem from Altman's oeuvre.

In California Split, director Robert Altman dives deep into the world of gambling halls, racetracks and poker matches. The result is a film as loose as it is accurate, about two men who meet in a gambling hall and together embark on a heady journey through the underbelly of 1970s America.

Charlie (Elliott Gould) is a flamboyant, seasoned gambler; Bill (George Segal) is more of a searching soul. Their meeting culminates in a sultry friendship that revolves around excitement, money and escape from reality. Altman captures their dynamic in his signature style: overlapping dialogue, plenty of improvisation and a lively, almost documentary-like atmosphere.

Please note this film is spoken in English and has no subtitles.

The Films of Robert Altman

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Robert Altman, a contrarian filmmaker who broke with traditional narrative structures and brought a unique sense of realism and complexity to his films through his often improvisational style. His innovative approach influenced generations of filmmakers and in August we are screening no fewer than nine of his best films, including the satirical musical Nashville, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

All films