This John Cassavetes' film is a sincere and in-depth examination of mental illness on family life. Featuring powerful performances from both the leads, it is a compelling drama with strong emotions.
Most of the events in the films are focused on the two lead characters. Mabel is a middle aged, married woman who has completely dominated her life to her family. Her eccentric behavior seems inappropriate at some stages but the character is treated with utmost care. One could never go as far to call her mad. I believe, it is her excessive love towards her family and fear from seeing them harmed causes her mental depression and she looses the control. She is the woman who is concerned about everyone else, who just couldn't leave anyone unsatisfied. Her past is not known to us but her sensitive emotional states are nicely presented throughout. I think Mabel is a woman who just couldn't let be herself because of all of these, that's why under the influence. Gena Rowlands gave one really really great performance.
But it is not just Mabel and her mental illness which the film is all concerned about. As I said earlier, it demonstrates how it the family life. Peter Falk gave equally good performance. It is his character whom I equally sympathized. Some viewers see him as the one who is really ill and states some of the scenes showing his questionable behavior. But I do not share such school of thought at all. I believe, he was a true family man. A hard-working man, devoted father and a husband who fights almost everything to protect his wife. He never believed in his wife's illness though admitting of not understanding it. He stands by Mabel but couldn't stand it when her actions started involving his children. His character and children towards the ending shows how much it takes to love someone.
Movie has camera-work quite similar to documentary films, matching with film's plot that helps it up building realistic atmosphere. All in, it is a compelling triumph with masterful film-making.
Most of the events in the films are focused on the two lead characters. Mabel is a middle aged, married woman who has completely dominated her life to her family. Her eccentric behavior seems inappropriate at some stages but the character is treated with utmost care. One could never go as far to call her mad. I believe, it is her excessive love towards her family and fear from seeing them harmed causes her mental depression and she looses the control. She is the woman who is concerned about everyone else, who just couldn't leave anyone unsatisfied. Her past is not known to us but her sensitive emotional states are nicely presented throughout. I think Mabel is a woman who just couldn't let be herself because of all of these, that's why under the influence. Gena Rowlands gave one really really great performance.
But it is not just Mabel and her mental illness which the film is all concerned about. As I said earlier, it demonstrates how it the family life. Peter Falk gave equally good performance. It is his character whom I equally sympathized. Some viewers see him as the one who is really ill and states some of the scenes showing his questionable behavior. But I do not share such school of thought at all. I believe, he was a true family man. A hard-working man, devoted father and a husband who fights almost everything to protect his wife. He never believed in his wife's illness though admitting of not understanding it. He stands by Mabel but couldn't stand it when her actions started involving his children. His character and children towards the ending shows how much it takes to love someone.
Movie has camera-work quite similar to documentary films, matching with film's plot that helps it up building realistic atmosphere. All in, it is a compelling triumph with masterful film-making.