An extremely captivating yet unnerving film. Cassavetes portrays one of the most unique family dynamics I have ever seen in film. I couldn’t sit still the entire time, torn between being completely entranced by two incredible performances while also struggling not to avert my gaze in discomfort. Gena Rowlands gives one of the most incredible performances that I think at times eclipses that of Peter Falk and the rest of the cast. This is a film I thoroughly enjoyed, but I think it may not be for everyone.
This film, to me, feels like what people seem to love about Marriage Story but heightened exponentially. It feels so incredibly real. The dialogue overlaps in a way that actually feels conversational, nothing is glamourous, and the cinematography at times feels more like a reality show or documentary. It’s this raw delivery that makes the “madness” of Mabel and the struggle of the couple as parents that much more impactful. The intimacy creates this unease, as if we are in the room experiencing everything from the awkward dinner party moments to the heartbreaking familial explosions. (Also, the children at times give such heartbreaking performances.)
Considering the subject of the movie and the era it was filmed in, I was expecting this film to struggle with the gender dynamics of Mabel and Nick and how that could affect how they address her “madness.” But I think ultimately the film itself serves as a critique of what is expected of both of them at that time. At the core of Mabel’s madness is a defiance of the “ladylike” expectations laid upon a mother of her era. She wants to play with the children, she wants to dance and have fun, but over the course of her life, as she is denied these opportunities, you can see it’s contributed to this anxiety that eventually reaches its climax. You can see even Nick is fighting with this expectation of how his wife should be perceived and wrestles with trying to tell her to be true to herself and to be “normal.” You can tell the social pressures of the outside world have a harrowing effect on both of them, as they are at their happiest when it’s just the two of them together. Now, if Nick really loved her when she was being herself, he wouldn’t be so visibly embarrassed by her when she was around other people, but these are obviously extremely flawed people, driven to their flaws by the catalyst of the aforementioned social pressures.
I should also note that the storytelling itself can be quite chaotic and, at times, genuinely difficult to follow. Scenes shift abruptly, conversations veer into unexpected directions, and the line between Mabel’s perception and reality blurs. I understand this is intentional, a formal choice to mirror the mania and disorientation Mabel experiences. But I can also see how this might make the film a genuinely hard watch for some people. The chaos is artistically justified, but it doesn’t always make for easy viewing, and I could see someone walking away feeling more frustrated than moved.
A brilliant example of a brilliant character-driven film. No intricate plot, grand score, or ensemble cast, just a brilliant story about two extremely flawed and unpredictable characters in a mesmerising relationship. Gena truly gives a performance I will not forget.
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