John Cassavetes debut revolves round a romance in New York City between Lelia, a pale - skinned black woman, a man that is white, also Tony. The relationship is put in jeopardy when Tony meets Lelia's darker-skinned jazz singer brother, Hugh, also finds her racial heritage just isn't what he thought it was. Shot with team and a nonprofessional cast on location in Manhattan, Shadows can be just a work that is widely recognized as the forerunner of the American independent film movement.