Jill Clayburgh made a big impact as the heroine of this 1970s examination of the liberation of a woman whose life seemed to be ruined by divorce. As in other films of the era, throwing off the shackles of marriage is just the first step in the protagonist's realization of her own self-worth. Director Paul Mazurksy is a fine delineator of characters, and in this detailed, beautifully acted film, he is determined to substitute all-too-human characters for Hollywood stereotypes. Disturbingly real and vivid, An Unmarried Woman is an iconic feminist film and was surprisingly popular at the box office; Clayburgh, the script by Mazursky, and the picture itself were all nominated for Oscars. The film's power is aided by Alan Bates's performance as Clayburgh's newfound, artistic love, even though that character also drew the lion's share of criticism, as an idealized solution to Erica's situation.