The French Lieutenant's Woman
1981
****
Director: Karel Reisz
Cast: Meryl Streep, Jeremy Irons, Hilton McRae, Emily Morgan, Charlotte Mitchell, Lynsey Baxter, Jean Faulds, Peter Vaughan, Colin Jeavons, Liz Smith
This clever adaptation of John Fowles' 1969 novel tells two parallel stories. The first one portrays a Victorian-era romance between a palaeontologist and a tainted governess. The second one depicts an extramarital affair between the actors who play these 19th century characters in a film. This compelling romantic drama explores love, betrayal, and the constraints of societal expectations across different time periods. Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons are very strong in the dual roles. Scripted by Harold Pinter.
