Five Easy Pieces

The title of the film refers to a collection of musical works that a novice pianist must learn before moving on to more complex compositions. ^[2]

Robert Dupy from the musical family, a pianist who had a great promise. He throws a quiet wealthy life and goes to California to earn money in the oil field. Robert lives with his girlfriend, a waitress, Reiett in a trailer, and spends his life drinking beer and bowling. Rayett is pregnant from him. Robert quits his job and moves to Los Angeles. There he learns from his sister Partita, who came to the recording session, that his father is not feeling well and may soon die. Robert decides to visit him. One of the storylines is Robert's journey through a series of cheap motels and roadside eateries in the northwestern United States. In a diner on the way, Robert makes a scandal by quarreling with a waitress who refused to bring a dish that was not on the menu.

Robert, leaving his girlfriend at the motel, goes home on one of the islands of Puget Bay. Upon reaching home, Robert restores relations with his family. A father who has suffered a stroke does not get out of the stroller and does not recognize him. Brother cellist Carl is engaged to young pianist Katherine. Behind Karl, Katherine and Robert there is a stormy scene of intimacy. Robert lingers longer than he expected. Rayett runs out of money, and she arrives at the house of Robert from the hotel. An awkward situation arises, ending with a fight between Robert and the nurse caring for his father. Katherine declares that he cannot be close to Robert because he does not love anyone, including himself. Robert tries to talk with his father, but he does not respond to his desperate attempts. Robert and Rayatt are leaving. Only Partita escorts him.

In the final scene, Robert and Rayett stop at a gas station. Rayett goes out to buy coffee and Robert leaves his wallet. Robert enters the toilet, looking thoughtfully in the mirror. Then, without even picking up his jacket, he goes outside, sits down at the first trucker that has come across and leaves, apparently, to Alaska. Perplexed Reiett wanders around the gas station.

• Jack Nicholson - Robert Dupie
• Karen Black - Rayett Dipesto
• Billy Green Bush - Elton
• Fanny Flagg - Stony
• Sally Struthers - Betty
• Marlena McGuire - Twins
• Lois Smith - Partita Dupi
• Irene Daily - Samia
• Susan Enspatch - Katherine Van Ust
• Ralph Waite - Carl Dupie
• Helena Kallianiotis - Palm Apodaka
• Tony Basil - Terry Grose
• Richard Stahl - Recording Engineer
• Lorna Thayer - Waitress

• 1971 - 4 Oscar nominations: Best Film of the Year (Bob Reifelson, Richard Wexler), Best Actor (Jack Nicholson), Best Supporting Actress (Karen Black), Best Original Screenplay (Carol Eastman, Bob Reifelson)
• 1971 - Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Karen Black), as well as 4 nominations: Best Drama, Best Drama Actor (Jack Nicholson), Best Director (Bob Reifelson), Best Screenplay (Carol Eastman, Bob Rayfelson)
• 1971 - US National Film Critics Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Karen Black)
• 1971 - U.S. Directors Guild Award nomination (Bob Reifelson)
• 1971 - Nominated for the U.S. Scriptwriters Guild Award for Best Original Drama (Carol Eastman)
• 2000 - The film is placed on the National Register of Films

Along with the film “ Easy Rider ” (1969), the film “Five Easy Pieces” became the starting point for the formation of American independent cinema . Like The Careless Rider, it was shot for pennies, but at the same time it was not perceived as a niche product: it went on a wide rental and was condescendingly accepted by the Hollywood establishment in the face of the Film Academy. The famous film critic Roger Ebert called him a "piercing masterpiece", and the hero Nicholson - "one of the most unforgettable characters in American cinema." ^[3]

• Five Easy Pieces at the Internet Movie Database
• Five Easy Pieces on allmovie