Patricia Clarkson on A Woman Under the Influence
Patricia Clarkson on A Woman Under the Influence
Thirty-some years after experiencing it for the first time, Patricia Clarkson is still transfixed by John Cassevettes' 1974 masterpiece, starring Gena Rowlands and Peter Falk.
Instantly recognizable for its intoxicating New Orleans lilt and deep pitch, hers is a voice I am always happy to hear. At the 2004 Sundance Film Festival I crowned her Queen of Sundance, when she appeared in no fewer than four films, ranging from Tom McCarthy’s The Station Agent to David Gordon Green’s All The Real Girls. She is drawn to interesting and provocative work, and is not unlike Gena Rowlands in her attraction to layered, intriguing characters who don’t quite fit the mold. She knows her way around complex women, and it was such a joy to explore this boundary-pushing film with the one and only Patti Clarkson. - J.C.
Celebrated for bringing depth and immediacy to roles ranging from a drug-addicted art dealer (High Art, Lisa Cholodenko, 1998), to a dying mother meeting her daughter for the first time (Monica, Andrea Pallaoro, 2023), Patricia Clarkson is no stranger to complex emotional terrain. Perhaps that is why she feels somewhat comfortable in the volatile world of A Woman Under the Influence, John Cassavettes’ 1974 masterpiece. The film centers around Mabel Longhetti, brilliantly rendered by Gena Rowlands, whose profound mental instability is matched by her deep, abiding love for her husband (Peter Falk) and children.
We explore the extraordinary power and nuance of Rowland’s performance, the layered collaboration of Cassavettes, Rowlands, and Falk, and learn the extent to which the film was indeed a family affair.
About the Film
An uncompromising portrait of domestic turmoil that details the breakdown of a housewife (Gena Rowlands) and as her husband (Peter Falk) and family struggle to save her from herself. 1974.
Directed by John Cassevettes
Written by John Cassevettes
Primary Cast
Gena Rowlands (Mabel Longhetti)
Peter Falk (Nick Longhetti)
Fred Draper (George Mortensen)
Cinematography by Mitch Breit and Al Ruban
Music by Bo Harwood