It’s been decades since director John Cassavetes released this film about a dysfunctional marriage and family, yet it still feels fresh and subversive today. It follows a middle-aged woman named Mabel (Rowlands), who is deemed crazy by the people around her—she displays odd quirks and acts more like her kids than her peers—but Rowlands gives her character a lot more nuance than that. She’s also desperate and lonely, as well as full of love and wonder. In contrast, her husband Nick (Falk) seems like your normal patriarch—strict, sociable, and aware of social cues and norms. But is Nick, in all his toxic masculine bravado, just as crazy as his wife? Cassavetes demands us to question our concept of normal here, of gender norms and familial expectations. And his intentions are brought to brilliant life by brilliant performances, notably by Rowlands who was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for this role.

Rowlands, hands down. Her performance is a masterclass at tempering big performances. She’s never too much and always sensitive and heartbreaking.