A Woman Under the Influence
A Woman Under the Influence is a 1974 American drama film written and directed by John Cassavetes. The story follows a woman (Gena Rowlands) whose unusual behavior leads to conflict with her blue-collar husband (Peter Falk) and family. It received two Academy Award nominations, for Best Actress and Best Director.
Plot
Mabel Longhetti, a Los Angeles housewife and mother, sends her three children to spend the night with her mother but is extremely hesitant to do so. She is a heavy drinker and exhibits strange behavior. That night, she meets a man at a bar and he takes her home. Despite her protests, he forces her to dance with him and appears to sexually assault her at the bottom of the stairs. She wakes up the next morning in bed and the man is still there. She is confused and briefly argues with him before he leaves calling him by her husband’s name. Her construction foreman husband, Nick, argues with his crew over bringing them to his house, saying he is ashamed of his 'crazy' wife. He succumbs to their cajoling and brings them over without being able to call Mabel beforehand. She makes everyone spaghetti, which Nick seems strangely critical of. The meal is superficially pleasant, then sours once Nick snaps at Mabel for flirting and dancing with the men.
Awards
More details
author | John Cassavetes |
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award | National Board of Review: Top Ten Films |
contentLocation | Los Angeles |
director | John Cassavetes |
editor | Beth Bergeron David Armstrong Sheila Viseltear |
genre | drama |
keywords | birthday party disturb drink electroshock therapy even flirt injured institutionalize involuntary commitment mental health mental hospital morning outgo strange behavior |
musicBy | Bo Harwood |
nomination | Academy Award for Best Actress Academy Award for Best Director |
producer | Sam Shaw |
productionCompany | Faces International Films |
publisher | Faces Distribution |
theme | dance independent |