Alice 1990

Alice Tate is a refined homemaker living in the upper echelons of Manhattan society. Her days revolve around leisure activities such as shopping, indulging in beauty treatments, and engaging in light-hearted gossip with her social circle. Married for 16 years to the affluent Doug, Alice’s life seems picture-perfect, albeit with two children who are primarily cared for by a nanny.

Everything changes when Alice encounters Joe Ruffalo, an attractive jazz musician who unexpectedly stirs feelings within her. This newfound attraction leaves Alice grappling with a sense of Catholic guilt, leading to physical manifestations of her inner conflict in the form of a backache. In her quest for relief, she seeks the counsel of Dr. Yang, an Asian herbalist who uses hypnosis as part of his healing method. During these sessions, Alice unveils some troubling truths: she was initially drawn to Doug for his superficial qualities such as his looks and wealth, while her feelings for Joe are much more profound.

Dr. Yang provides Alice with ancient herbal remedies that catalyze her feelings for Joe, enabling them to agree on a date. However, when the effects of the herbs wear off, she is horrified by her impulsive behavior and chooses not to meet him. But her situation intensifies when another herbal treatment renders Alice invisible. In this unseen state, she spies on Joe visiting his ex-wife Vicki, only to discover an intimate encounter between them that intensifies her feelings of relief for not meeting him.

Later, Alice finds herself communicating with the spirit of her first love, Ed, who encourages her to explore her relationship with Joe further. Eventually, they meet under the guise of a playdate for their children, and their encounters grow increasingly frequent. As her guilt regarding her feelings for Joe mounts, Alice returns to Dr. Yang for guidance. While inhaling the soothing contents from his pipe, she drifts into a deep sleep filled with revelations from her Catholic upbringing and reflections on her life choices. She remembers her nurturing instincts and acknowledges how materially driven her life has become.

This self-discovery culminates during a fundraising event for Mother Teresa, a figure Alice deeply admires. After spending the night with Joe, Alice realizes that she is falling for him. In a twist, Alice shares her invisibility herbs with Joe, leading to overhearing her friends gossiping about their relationship and Doug’s unfaithfulness, which adds to her disillusionment. When Alice confronts Doug at a party where she becomes visible again, it leads her to finally decide to end her marriage.

However, just as Alice resolves to leave Doug, she learns that Joe plans to reconcile with Vicki after witnessing her therapy sessions. Heartbroken, she returns to Dr. Yang, who gives her one last packet of herbs — a powerful love potion that requires her to ultimately choose between Joe and Doug. In search of clarity, she turns to her sister Dorothy for advice, though a mix-up with the herbs at a Christmas party causes chaos as all the men become infatuated with her.

Back at home, Alice announces to Doug that their marriage is concluding as she prepares to travel to Calcutta to work alongside Mother Teresa. Doug dismisses her ambition, predicting that she would struggle away from her comfortable lifestyle. Contrary to his expectation, Alice finds strength and purpose in her new path, eventually meeting Mother Teresa in Calcutta. Upon returning to New York, she embraces a simpler life, moves into a modest apartment, and dedicates herself to raising her children and engaging in volunteer work, showcasing her evolution from a life of luxury to one filled with genuine fulfillment and purpose.