beautiful film and pure cassavetes style . gena rowland give a stunning performance of a decline actress and deal with success and age and loneliness . and alcoholism . she try to escape her own subconscious ghost and embody by the death spectre of a young girl . acceptance of oneself and of human condition and though it overall difficulty and be the real purpose of the film . the parallel between the theatrical sequence and the film itself be puzzle represent it like if the stage become a way out for the heroin . if all american movie could only be that top quality and deal with human relation on an adult level and not try to infantilize and standardize feeling . one of the best drama ever . positive .