Synopsis
In 'A Woman Under the Influence', Mabel Longhetti, the wife of a hard-working blue-collar worker and mother of three children, starts exhibiting increasingly erratic and disturbed behavior. Her unconventional actions affect her relationships and lead to a devastating breakdown that shakes her family's foundation.
Why Watch It
Gena Rowlands delivers a raw, unflinching performance as a woman navigating mental illness within the constraints of marriage and motherhood, while Cassavetes captures intimate domestic chaos with documentary-like urgency. The film's emotional authenticity and refusal to sentimentalize its subject matter feel revolutionary even now, creating an exhausting, necessary portrait of a mind under siege.
Did You Know?
- John Cassavetes wrote the script specifically for his wife, Gena Rowlands.
- The film was nominated for two Academy Awards.
- Cassavetes mortgaged his house to finance the movie.
- The movie was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.
- None of the cast members had rehearsal before shooting.
Iconic Quotes
- “My husband is not a bum, he's a working man.”
- “I'm not a weak person. I'm a strong person.”
- “I'm a real, real woman.”
- “I'm one of those people who can't help getting involved.”
- “I'm not crazy, I'm just not you.”
