Remembering Gena Rowlands: A Master of Emotional Acrobatics

In a 1982 interview, Tennessee Williams said we must bear witness, spread the word, and show respect to those who endow us with their souls. He called out Gena Rowlands as one of the very few who had the courage to do such a thing. Rowlands, who passed away recently, was a pioneer who revolutionized acting, and whose performances continue to inspire and move audiences.

Rowlands’s career spanned decades, and she worked with some of the most renowned directors in cinema, including John Cassavetes, her husband, with whom she made several groundbreaking films. Rowlands was known for her fearless exploration of complex and often unlikable characters, and her performances were characterized by an emotional depth that was both raw and vulnerable.

A Natural Defiance and Rigorous Study

Rowlands was not afraid to show the unvarnished truth of human nature. She played characters who were flawed, sometimes deeply troubled, but she always found a way to make them relatable and human. She was disinterested in neat conclusions or tidy fictions, and her work often challenged societal norms and expectations.

Despite her natural talent, Rowlands was also a rigorous student of film. She adored the glamorous Bette Davis and studied her performances closely. Rowlands’s performances often had a fluidity that seemed closer to real-life behavior than to movie acting, but this was the result of meticulous preparation. She based many of her performances on her own script analysis, bringing total command and authorship to her roles.

Essential Roles: A Legacy of Unforgettable Performances

Rowlands’s filmography is a treasure trove of iconic performances. Here are a few of her most essential roles that showcase her extraordinary range and talent:

Lonely Are the Brave (1962)

Rowlands appears in only a couple scenes of David Miller’s Lonely Are the Brave, but her brief presence is unforgettable. She plays the wife of Douglas’s best friend, and her stifled emotions practically quiver on her face. Rowlands carries the burden of an abandoned woman, filled with both rage and tenderness.

Faces (1968)

The first of Rowlands and Cassavetes’s major collaborations, Faces is a raw and intimate exploration of love, marriage, and the struggle between men and women. Rowlands plays a sex worker named Jeannie Rapp, a tertiary character who steals the show with her vulnerability and strength.

Minnie and Moskowitz (1971)

Rowlands shines in Cassavetes’s dysfunctional screwball comedy Minnie and Moskowitz. She plays a Los Angeles County Museum of Art curator who falls for a free-spirited musician. Rowlands brings a rare grace and dignity to the role, even as her character is pushed to her limits by her abusive lover.

A Woman Under the Influence (1974)

In her most acclaimed role, Rowlands plays Mabel Longhetti, a lower-middle-class mother of three who is struggling to cope with the pressures of family life. Rowlands’s performance is a tour-de-force, capturing the character’s fragility, vulnerability, and resilience.

Opening Night (1977)

Rowlands gives a mesmerizing performance as Myrtle Gordon, a seasoned actress struggling with her latest Broadway role. The film explores the borders between fiction and reality, and Rowlands’s performance is a masterclass in emotional nuance and vulnerability.

Gloria (1980)

In Cassavetes’s most conventional film, Rowlands steps out of her typically intimate style. She plays the titular character, a childless moll who saves a 6-year-old boy from the mobsters who killed his family. Rowlands displays a new physicality in this role, showcasing her versatility and range.

Love Streams (1984)

Rowlands and Cassavetes’s final film together is a complex and haunting exploration of love and loss. Rowlands plays Sarah Lawson, a self-effacing love addict who struggles with her own sense of identity. The film is a testament to Rowlands’s ability to convey deep emotional turmoil with subtlety and nuance.

Another Woman (1988)

Woody Allen’s Another Woman stars Rowlands as a philosophy professor who suffers a sexual-based crisis just before she turns 50. Rowlands gives a restrained and introspective performance, capturing the character’s inner turmoil and confusion.

Night on Earth (1991)

Jim Jarmusch’s Night on Earth features Rowlands in a small but memorable role as a power-playing talent agent. She shares a cab ride with a young actress, and the two reveal the two sides of Los Angeles, its glamour and its underbelly. Rowlands effortlessly conveys a subtle sense of discontent beneath her polished exterior.

The Notebook (2004)

Rowlands’s performance in The Notebook as a woman living with Alzheimer’s now carries a sharp sense of tragedy. Her portrayal of Allie Hamilton is filled with courage and vulnerability, and it adds a haunting layer to the otherwise conventional romance.

Gena Rowlands’s legacy is one of courage, authenticity, and emotional depth. Her performances continue to inspire and move audiences, and her work will continue to be celebrated for generations to come.

We must bear witness, spread the word, and show respect to those who endow us with their souls. Gena Rowlands was one of those rare few.