In this episode, I explore Gena Rowlands's raw and uncompromising performance as Mabel Longhetti in John Cassavetes's 1974 film, "A Woman Under the Influence." Mabel is a woman struggling with mental illness and coming apart in the midst of family turmoil. I talk about why Cassavetes's work was so groundbreaking and provide details about his and Rowlands's relationship. The heart of the episode is my in-depth analysis of Rowlands's acting in the film and why I think she gives one of the greatest performances of all time. I also talk about my recent move, my own struggle with mental illness, the suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain, and I expand on my previous ideas about a Cinema of the Unruly Woman.
Consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon.
Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter.
Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr.
Original artwork by Dhiyanah Hassan
Full show notes:
Listen to Episodes Mentioned:
More about the HBO documentary, A Dangerous Son
John Cassavetes Interviews and Research:
Gena Rowlands Interviews:
The Keepers, Big Little Lies, and Broadchurch
Elem Klimov's 'Come and See' (1985)
Ettore Scola's 'A Special Day' (1977)
Mathieu Amalric's 'Le Stade de Wimbledon' (2001)
Herk Harvey's 'Carnival of Souls' (1962)
Agnieszka Holland's 'The Secret Garden' (1993)
Lee Chang-dong's 'Poetry' (2010)
Andrea Arnold's 'Fish Tank' (2009)
Laura Citarella and Veronica Llinás's 'Dog Lady' (2015) and Notes on a Cinema of the Unruly Woman
Barbara Loden's 'Wanda' (1970)
Katell Quillévéré's 'Heal The Living' (2016) and Radu Jude's 'Scarred Hearts' (2016)
Vadim Perelman's 'House of Sand and Fog' (2003)
Sally Potter's 'The Tango Lesson' (1997)
Agnès Varda's 'Vagabond' (1985)
Two Made-For-TV Movies from the 1990s - Christopher Leitch's 'She Fought Alone (1995) and Marina Sargenti's 'Lying Eyes' (1996)
Alain Resnais's 'Hiroshima Mon Amour' (1959)
Abdellatif Kechiche's 'Blue is the Warmest Color' (2013)
Ken Loach's 'I, Daniel Blake' (2016)
Abbas Kiarostami's Koker Trilogy
Abbas Kiarostami's 'Where Is My Friend's House' (1987) and Mohammad-Ali Talebi's 'Willow and Wind' (2000)
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Multiverse Fancast
Cinema: A to B
I Finally Watched...
Pod Meets World
Pop Culture Happy Hour