Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970)

In the vibrant yet turbulent era of the 1970s New York, we meet Tina Balser, a young and seemingly content housewife caught in the whirlwind of societal norms and expectations. A mother and dutiful wife to Jonathan, a haughty lawyer with a penchant for social climbing, Tina navigates the precarious tightrope of her domestic life. Jonathan, ever the critic, belittles her at every turn, his scornful words echoing in the confines of their home, sowing seeds of discontent and anxiety in Tina's heart. Lost in the labyrinth of motherhood and marriage, Tina teeters on the brink of an emotional breakdown, her spirit stifled by the shackles of her prescribed roles. But instead of surrender, she embarks on a clandestine affair with the charismatic yet blatantly sadistic writer, George Prager. George, however, is a mirror reflecting the same torment she experiences with her husband, his massive ego matching the magnitude of Tina’s burgeoning anxiety. As the sexual revolution roars in the backdrop, Tina finds herself a soldier trapped in a battlefield of her own creation. She is drawn into the same pattern of emotional torture with George as she experiences with Jonathan, further complicating her search for self-identity and fulfillment. When George's unfaithfulness comes to light, Tina is forced back into the cold embrace of her husband, pushing her towards the path of group therapy. In this riveting tale of self-discovery, Diary of a Mad Housewife explores the tumultuous journey of a woman grappling with her identity, trapped between the expectations of society and her own desire to find herself.

Diary of a Mad Housewife is a comedy movie featuring Carrie Snodgress and directed by Frank Perry.

Diary of a Mad Housewife is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.