A Woman Under the Influence

A WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE (15)

D: John Cassavetes

Faces International (Sam Shaw)

US 🇺🇸 1974

155 mins

Drama

W: John Cassavetes

DP: Mitch Breit & Al Ruban

Ed: David Armstrong, Sheila Viseltear & Beth Bergeron

Mus: Bo Harwood

Gena Rowlands (Mabel Longhetti), Peter Falk (Nick Longhetti), Fred Draper (George Mortensen), Lady Rowlands (Martha Mortensen), Katherine Cassavetes (Margaret Longhetti), Matthew Laborteaux (Angelo Longhetti)

Gena Rowlands stars as a housewife to blue-collar worker Peter Falk & the mother of two young children in this drama from writer-director John Cassavetes.

Though adored by her family, her mental health causes problems with her husband & family, resulting in her being institutionalised.

The film focuses on the events before and after this, and though it’s a story where not much happens, the performances from the two leads are extraordinary.

Gena Rowlands was deservedly nominated for a Best Actress Oscar, but Peter Falk really deserved to be in the Best Actor race as well.

7/10