The French Lieutenant's Woman (film)
- Meryl Streep: Sarah Woodruff / Anna
- Jeremy Irons: Charles Henry Smithson / Mike
- Hilton McRae: Sam
- Emily Morgan: Mary
- Charlotte Mitchell: Mrs. Tranter
- Lynsey Baxter: Ernestina
- Leo McKern: Dr. Grogan
The French Lieutenant's ( The French Lieutenant 's Woman ) is a British film drama directed by Karel Reisz from the year 1981. The screenplay by Harold Pinter, based on the novel by John Fowles.
Action
The action takes place in England in the 19th century. The biologist Charles Henry Smithson is engaged to a woman who comes from a wealthy home. Smithson falls in love with Sarah Woodruff, who previously had a relationship with a French officer, which is why they are not respected in their place.
The couple is played in the present in a film by Anna and Mike, who also combines an affair. Mike mentioned in one of the conversations, the novel has two endings: In a relationship of love pair is maintained, finished in the other. The filmmakers had opted for the happy ending.
Smithson reveals his fiancée Ernestina that he can not marry her. She is angry and threatens her influential father will take revenge on Smithson. This signs a declaration in which he takes the blame for the solution of the engagement to be. Smithson confirmed in the statement that he was no longer a man of honor.
Woodruff dives under, Smithson hired a private investigator to search for her. She answers until three years later to a newspaper ad. Smithson accuses her that she had ruined his life, then he forgives her. He and Woodruff are together again.
The relationship of Anna and Mike goes to pieces.
Reviews
Roger Ebert wrote in the Chicago Sun - Times, the reading of the novel resembles the madman in a maze. John Frankenheimer had once said, the novel could not film it. Therefore, the film was directed by Karel Reisz just as " easy " as well as " brilliant." His visual side was " nice "; the roles were " played well " ( "remarkably well- ACTED ").
Awards
Meryl Streep has been nominated for an Oscar in 1982 for Best Actress, the script, the scenes, the costumes and the cut. Meryl Streep won the 1982 Golden Globe Award, the script and the film for Best Drama was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.
Meryl Streep, Carl Davis for the music and the Tonexperten won in 1982 the BAFTA Award. Among the eight nominations for the BAFTA Award for clients such as Jeremy Irons, Karel Reisz and Best Picture. Karel Reisz won the 1982 Evening Standard British Film Award and the Bodil Award 1983 and was nominated for the César.
Meryl Streep won the 1981 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award. Harold Pinter won the 1982 Premi David di Donatello. Carl Davis was nominated in 1983 for the album with the soundtrack for a Grammy Award.
Background
The film played in theaters in the USA about a 22.6 million U.S. dollars.