A Woman Under the Influence (1974)

Posted : 1 month, 2 weeks ago at Oct 9 13:28

John Cassavetes was an American genius. There is a distinctively American flavor to his filmmaking – these stories feel like they can only be told in our suburbs or modern society. A Woman Under the Influence is the first film that I saw from him, and it remains my favorite. The story follows the sixth months before and after a Los Angeles housewife’s institution, she has slowly succumbed to something closely resembling schizophrenia, manic depression or some combination thereof. It hits painfully close to the bone, even if some sense are played bigger than real life the emotions hit disturbingly close to home. Gena Rowlands plays the titular woman, Mabel, and is unafraid to look as deranged and sick as her facial muscles and cinematography can make her. This is a fiercely committed...Read more