A Woman Under the Influence

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A Woman Under the Influence

R

1974

2h 35m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

41 Reviews

91%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Mabel Longhetti (Gena Rowlands), desperate and lonely, is married to a Los Angeles municipal construction worker, Nick (Peter Falk). Increasingly unstable, especially in the company of others, she craves happiness, but her extremely volatile behavior convinces Nick that she poses a danger to their family and he decides to commit her to an institution for six months. Alone with a trio of kids to raise on his own, he awaits her return, which holds more than a few surprises.

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Critics Consensus

Electrified by searing performances from Gena Rowlands and Peter Falk, A Woman Under the Influence finds pioneering independent filmmaker John Cassavetes working at his artistic peak.

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Derek Smith

Slant Magazine

Feb 8

John Cassavetes’s films were born out of emotional truth.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

09/27/2023

Cassavetes has gone so far over to the most literal-minded Laing position that the society he shows us is implausible -- a society of boorish people with such limited awareness that they're barely human.

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Adam Kempenaar

Filmspotting

03/02/2019

4.5/5

'Be yourself,' Nick implores Mabel. But how do you be yourself if you have no longer have a self?

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Chance Solem-Pfeifer

Willamette Week

May 21

Gena Rowlands does something that actors playing mentally ill characters almost never do—just play the person.

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Frank J. Avella

The Contending

Feb 25

B+

Rowland’s brave performance has such emotional depth it sometimes threatens to go off the rails, but the actress always knows just when to dial it back a bit. It’s a true beguiling turn.

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Daniel Barnes

Dare Daniel

Feb 17

5/5

A searing, emotionally exhausting kitchen sink drama that's also bizarrely funny, with world-class performances from Gena Rowlands and Peter Falk.

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Summer D

@summerlovesfilm 6d

Emotionally claustrophobic and unrelenting. No protective distance from Mabel’s psychotic regression... and there shouldn’t be.

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Sharon I

@Puddles426 Aug 2

Gena Rowlands/Peter Falk were incredible in this movie. I watched this when it came out and it always stuck in my mind….WOW!!! John Cassavetes was a genius. Unfortunately, he was a lifelong alcoholic and passed away at only 59. Great and unforgettable movie! ♥️🍿🎥🎬🎦♥️ ♥️🍿🎥♥️

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Wayne K

@WayneKelso Jul 26

John Cassavetes employed a pared-back, naturalistic style in his movies, and it’s the perfect approach for A Woman Under the Influence. Gena Rowlands plays a person that’s undoubtedly quirky, oddball and awkward, but the film’s contention is that that kind of behaviour in women is deemed undesirable and, I guess you could say, unladylike. Seeing her pushed to limits of her sanity while really doing nothing wrong gives the story a real sense of tragedy. The film is about 20 minutes too long, with protracted arguments and rambling dialogue. Also I don’t know what was happening with the editing, but a number of scenes end very abruptly, and the ending almost feels too fairytale-ish, in complete contrast to the rest of it. It’s not an easy watch, but it’s a searing portrayal of mental illness and suffering, and if it’s the film Cassavetes is best remembered for, it’s more than earned that accolade.

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Annette K

@Anne845 Jul 22

Strong performances but to what point? Movie is too long, and too talky. Not much plot resolution and some scenes are not believable. Perhaps Mabel should not have been released from the hospital.

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Mark W

@RT34561273 Jul 22

Punishing, as others have said. You really feel like you're going crazy with all of them. You're supposed to just go along with whatever is happening, even though it doesn't make sense. These family and friend characters and their interactions are bonkers. Uncomfortably long, you will go crazy with them.

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Tami A.

@chattyjollyvulture Jun 23

The acting in this is off the charts good.

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John Cassavetes

Director

Gena Rowlands

Mabel Longhetti

Peter Falk

Nick Longhetti

Katherine Cassavetes

Mama Longhetti

Lady Rowlands

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Synopsis

Mabel Longhetti (Gena Rowlands), desperate and lonely, is married to a Los Angeles municipal construction worker, Nick (Peter Falk). Increasingly unstable, especially in the company of others, she craves happiness, but her extremely volatile behavior convinces Nick that she poses a danger to their family and he decides to commit her to an institution for six months. Alone with a trio of kids to raise on his own, he awaits her return, which holds more than a few surprises.

Director: John Cassavetes
Producer: Sam Shaw
Distributor: Touchstone Pictures
Production Co: Faces
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 10, 1974, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 29, 2011
Runtime: 2h 35m

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