A Woman Under the Influence Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A woman is so desperate for spaghetti she goes to a mental institution for a vacation, returns, and then everyone yells at each other.

🍿 A Woman Under the Influence: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Introduction to the Longhetti Family

The film introduces Mabel and Nick Longhetti, a working-class couple in Los Angeles, and their three children. Mabel is portrayed as a loving but eccentric housewife who struggles to meet societal expectations. Nick, a construction foreman, is a hardworking but often emotionally unavailable husband.

Mabel’s Erratic Behavior

As the story progresses, Mabel’s behavior becomes increasingly erratic and unpredictable. She exhibits signs of emotional instability, struggling with her identity and often acting out in ways that embarrass Nick and confuse their children. This includes bringing home a stranger after a night out and behaving oddly during a breakfast gathering with Nick’s coworkers.

Commitment and Return

Increasingly concerned about Mabel’s mental state and its impact on their children, Nick, influenced by his mother, has Mabel committed to a psychiatric institution. After six months, she returns home, seemingly subdued and attempting to conform to societal norms. However, the underlying issues remain unresolved, and her homecoming is fraught with tension and awkwardness.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Mabel Longhetti (Gena Rowlands): A mentally unstable housewife and mother struggling to maintain normalcy in her working-class family.
• Nick Longhetti (Peter Falk): Mabel’s blue-collar husband who grapples with her mental illness and its impact on their family life.
• George Mortensen (Fred Draper): Mabel’s father, who often seems unsure how to support his daughter.
• Margaret Longhetti (Katherine Cassavetes): Nick’s mother, who is critical of Mabel and pushes for her institutionalization.
• Angelo Longhetti (Matthew Labyorteaux): One of Mabel and Nick’s three children who witnesses the turmoil in the family.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Mabel Longhetti: “Dad… will you stand up for me?” – Mabel asks her father for support, highlighting her vulnerability and the lack of support she feels from her family.
• Nick Longhetti: “Just tell me what you want me to do! Tell me how you want me to be!” – Mabel desperately asks Nick to define her role, revealing her struggle with identity and her desire to please him.
• Nick Longhetti: “Just be yourself!” – Nick’s frustrated response to Mabel’s plea, showing his inability to understand her need for guidance and acceptance.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $1,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $4,523,560
• Worldwide Gross: $25,601

💥 A Woman Under the Influence Reviews

Personal Review

Wow, this movie really hit me hard. Gena Rowlands is phenomenal as Mabel; she made me feel everything she was going through. I especially remember the scene where she’s trying to connect with Nick’s work friends, it was so awkward and real. Watching Peter Falk as Nick was heartbreaking because you could see how much he loved her but just didn’t know how to help. This film is emotionally intense and raw but so worth watching.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of independent cinema”
  • “Those interested in films about mental health and family dynamics”
  • “Viewers who appreciate realistic and character-driven stories”
  • “Admirers of Gena Rowlands and Peter Falk”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Strong language”
  • “Mature themes of mental illness”
  • “Depiction of emotional distress”
  • “Brief scenes of implied violence”

Professional Reviews

• Indiewire: “This film offers an unflinching look at mental illness within a marriage. Gena Rowlands delivers a powerhouse performance as Mabel, showcasing a raw emotional depth. Peter Falk is equally compelling as her husband, struggling to cope. Cassavetes’s direction is intense, creating a profoundly moving experience, although be prepared to feel emotionally exhausted.
• Gazettely: “John Cassavetes paints a painfully realistic portrait of a marriage strained by mental illness. Rowlands’s performance is a tour-de-force, capturing the nuances of Mabel’s struggle. Falk provides a compelling counterpoint, balancing love and frustration. This is not an easy watch but a deeply rewarding exploration of human relationships under duress.
• IMDB: “A- describes it as ‘Bruising is the best word I can think of to describe this film’

Audience Reactions

Rowlands’s amazing performance as Mabel is one of the finest performances of the sound era. One of the bravest roles ever undertaken by an actress.: Viewers celebrate the raw, unfiltered performances and emotional honesty.

Brava Mabel is an excellent review of this movie: Viewers believe that the husband is crazier

Overall Consensus: A powerful, albeit difficult, cinematic experience marked by outstanding performances and unflinching realism.

Awards

1. Golden Globe (Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama)- 1975

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “John Cassavetes struggled to find a distributor for the film. Martin Scorsese helped by threatening to pull his own film from a festival unless they accepted ‘A Woman Under the Influence’.”
• “Gena Rowlands’ performance as Mabel is considered one of the greatest female performances in cinema history, earning her an Academy Award nomination.”
• “Cassavetes often used improvisation in his films, allowing the actors to explore their characters and the scenes in a more natural and spontaneous way.”
• “The film was shot in a cinéma vérité style, with hand-held cameras and natural lighting, to create a sense of realism and intimacy.”

🖥️ How to Watch A Woman Under the Influence?

A Woman Under the Influence is available for purchase on platforms like Amazon. Check your local streaming services for availability as rental or purchase options may vary. Unfortunately, there’s no mention of it being available on popular streaming platforms like Prime Video, Netflix, or Apple TV at the time of data collection.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed A Woman Under the Influence, you might like these similar films:

• Opening Night (1977): Also directed by Cassavetes and starring Gena Rowlands, it explores a woman’s mental and emotional breakdown.
• The Hours (2002): Thematic similarities in depicting women struggling with societal expectations and mental health issues.
• Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966): Explores the destructive dynamics of a troubled marriage with raw emotional intensity.
• Manchester by the Sea (2016): Deals with themes of grief, mental health, and the struggle to cope with life’s challenges in a realistic and unflinching way.
• Repulsion (1965): Explores a woman’s descent into madness in a chilling and disturbing manner, similar to Mabel’s unraveling.

🛒 A Woman Under the Influence Related Products

• John Cassavetes: Five Films (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]: A must-have collection for any fan. Includes ‘Shadows,’ ‘Faces,’ ‘A Woman Under the Influence,’ ‘The Killing of a Chinese Bookie,’ and ‘Opening Night.’
• Faces Blu-Ray: Faces a 1968 American drama film written and directed by John Cassavetes. It stars John Marley, Gena Rowlands, Lynn Carlin, Seymour Cassel, Fred Draper and Val Avery. The film details the slow disintegration of a marriage.
• Peter Falk: The Columbo Collection – Complete Series [DVD]: While A Woman Under the Influence offers a dramatically different side of the actor, see Peter Falk in his iconic role as the bumbling yet brilliant detective.
• Gena Rowlands Signed Autographed Photo: A signed photograph of Gena Rowlands can make a unique and cherished item

🎧 Soundtrack

A Woman Under the Influence features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “La Boheme: ‘Che facevi, che dicevi Act 3” – performed by Giacomo Puccini, Performed by Mirella Freni, Nicolai Gedda and Thomas Schippers

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Why this FAMOUS ACTOR was BOOED CONTINUALLY at the first showing of the film!

Can you believe Peter Falk was booed at the premiere of this movie? This video dives into why, and it’s a wild story that’ll make you see the film in a whole new light. You won’t believe the reason!

John Cassavetes / Rowlands and Falk discuss „A Woman Under the Influence” (2004, part 2)

Ever wonder what Gena Rowlands and Peter Falk thought about making this intense film? This short clip is a gem! It’s fascinating to hear them reflect on their experiences years later.

Gena Rowlands and John Cassavetes Hid Their Troubled Marriage

Did you know Gena Rowlands and John Cassavetes had a complex marriage? This video explores their relationship and how it may have influenced their work on the film. It’s a really interesting look at what was going on behind the scenes.

Gena Rowlands, Oscar-nominated ‘A Woman Under the Influence’ and ‘The Notebook’ actress, dies at 94

Gena Rowlands recently passed away, and this news report celebrates her life and career, including her iconic role in this film. It’s a touching tribute to a truly remarkable actress and an important piece of film history.

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