"An unmarried Woman" - a film by Paul Mazursky

The 1960’s and 70’s marked a great period of change in American value systems. The Hippie movement, the libertinism of ambiguous sexual proclivities, the infidelity of marital life and increased rates of divorce; and a general sense of disillusionment and loneliness pervaded its social life. The American political arena also looked bleak after the assassination of JFK, and the country was caught midway between a glorious dream and a damning inertia that seemed to apply brakes to its growth, both socially and psychologically. It was in such a milieu, in 1978, that Paul Mazursky wrote and directed his emotional masterpiece “An unmarried woman” featuring the mercurial Jill Clayburgh.

Picture a beautiful lady married for fifteen years walking along the streets of New York with her husband, dreaming and talking of a summer vacation in beach houses; - when all of a sudden, her Husband breaks down, uncontrollably sobs and tells her in between shallow breaths that he is having an affair with a 26 year old, and wants to move away.. Our heroine stares dumbfounded, unable to articulate her emotions, turns and walks down the street without a glance backwards; and pukes into nearest trash can. The feeling of disgust so poignantly portrayed! Such is kind of middle class educated American woman who can rationalize her husband’s weakness, but emotionally cannot reconcile to it - that Paul drew up for our consumption. Erica is an intelligent and reasonable woman, who works in an art gallery; meets her circle of girlfriends every week for a drink and exchanges malicious gossip for fun; has a healthy sexual relationship with her husband twice a week for the last sixteen years : yet unable to hold the marriage together - and spirals into a web of inner grief, frustration, anger, loneliness and sexual experimentation to regain her balance back in life. The movie begins with Tchaikovsky’s “swan lake” playing in the background; and Erica (brilliantly played by Jill Clayburgh) flush after a round of Morning sex with her husband, dressed in her T shirt and panties, waltzing around with a warm, wet glow on her face – basking in the fact that everything about her life is so perfect and beautiful; and then begins the descent into irrationality and fragility of marital relationships.

The movie is all about Erica’s response to this middle age crisis. With a teenage daughter growing to maturity; Sympathetic men who gain her favor only wanting to take her to bed, the edgy feeling of getting old and losing her charm; trying to find that elusive satisfaction in fleeting relationships and bed mates - this is the story of “an unmarried woman”.

For Jill Clayburgh, there could not have a better role to act. Her thick flowing blonde hair, sharp face, shapely body, wide blue eyes and husky voice fits Erica perfectly. Her ability to project pain, anger, boredom and anguish - all in a single frame; and to play the role of an intelligent, cheated woman who knows her vulnerabilities; yet projecting a self-assumed confidence in facing an emotional setback; slowly melting away and succumbing to the need for companionship without hurting her pride and image - is a very difficult character to play on screen. Jill enacted it to perfection……. She did get an Oscar nod for this seminal performance.

Paul mazursky’s screenplay is effective and so are his dialogues. It smacks of honesty about American woman; their liberation, and deep convictions that shape their lives. There is a directness in his treatment of marital infidelity that I have not seen in a film. There is no beating around the bush, or small cushy dialogues. The firm pen of Paul whips through the hypocrisy of American values; the explosion of sexual freedom and its resultant boredom, the conflict between feelings and intellect - are vividly bought out in his narrative and succinct dialogues.

Watch this film, if you are interested in the finer art of Movie making. This is not an entertainment, but a story that could happen to anyone. The unbelievable reality of this movie is what makes it worth watching. And of course, one cannot see a better exhibition of character role play than Jill Clayburgh’s performance as Erica in this film. It is a study in the science of acting….

God bless…



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