A Woman Under the Influence

Why tonight?

• ◆A long one. Start it early, and give it the whole evening.
• ◆Reviewed better than most films in the catalogue.

The story

Mabel Longhetti, desperate and lonely, is married to a Los Angeles municipal construction worker, Nick. Increasingly unstable, especially in the company of others, she craves happiness, but her extremely volatile behavior convinces Nick that she poses a danger to their family and decides to commit her to an institution for six months. Alone with a trio of kids to raise on his own, he awaits her return, which holds more than a few surprises.

• mental breakdown
• unfaithfulness
• los angeles
• california
• tense
• ambivalent
• cruel
• disheartening