This month got off to an inconspicuous start as much of the world reels from the truly horrible spectacle of the presidential debate. The less said about that the better. Escaping reality, the heat and our political turmoil are great excuses to indulge in loads of movie-going. This may be the functional equivalent of fiddling while Rome is burning, but we’ll always have Paris. And movies.

A WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE 1974, streaming Prime & Criterion): Director John Cassavetes was a radical filmmaker, and even by the innovative standards of the ‘70s, exhibited a daring indie spirit, most notably displayed in this classic film released fifty years ago this summer. His muse and wife, Gena Rowland, is a revelation as Mabel, the neglected, high-strung but lively woman whose desperate pleas for compassion and affection fuel her husband’s anger, thereby escalating her despair. From here we follow our tormented heroine’s descent which may not make for such a pleasant viewing experience, but much like a car crash, you can’t look away. There are no easy answers for what ails Mabel and Nick. He says, “be yourself,” yet when Mabel attempts comply, she finds herself attacked, vilified and labeled as “crazy.” The relationship between Mabel and Nick is a complicated and exhausting mess and will leave the viewer pondering the influence and dynamics of sexual politics in our intimate relationships.

FANCY DANCE (in theaters): There’s a considerable dearth of films representing Native American culture. But in recent years, there seems to be a growing interest in depicting their lives given the success of films such as KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON and the series RESERVATION DOGS. FD deserves to find an audience and given the strong performances and compelling story, it hopefully will do well in the independent theaters that screen it A young indigenous girl is taken from the care of her aunt and placed in the custody of distant white relatives after her mother goes missing. The story is simple but raises complicated issues regarding the struggles of Native Americans who find themselves forced to navigate a power structure imposed upon them that doesn’t understand or appreciate their culture and has no interest in doing so. The epidemic of missing and murdered Native American women and the failure of law enforcement to properly investigate is also at the heart of the story and this movie is a stark reminder that in the United States not all lives are treated equally.

Enjoy!

~Amy