Woman Under the Influence is a 1974 American drama film directed by John Cassavetes. It received two Academy Award nominations for Best Actress and Best Director. In 1990, A Woman Under the Influence was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”, one of the first ten films to be so honoured. Much to Cassavetes surprise, the picture is considered a kind of manifesto picturing the situation of American women.

Mabel, a housewife and mother, lives in Los Angeles. She loves her husband Nick and desperately wants to please him, but the increasingly odd behavior she displays has him concerned. Nick loves his wife, but the situation overwhelms him and he reluctantly commits her to an institution. After six months Mabel returns home and the evening disintegrates into yet another emotionally and psychologically devastating event.

Themes from this film inspired the performance by Maja Kleczewska, “Under the Influence”, which will be presented during this edition of the Festival.