| Product: |
The Bridges of Madison County (DVD) |
| Date: |
31/12/00 (93 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Excellent story and acting
Disadvantages: it is sad!
Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep star in the heart wrenching love story, which I first saw 4 years ago, and have watched again today as it was on TV. It is based on the book by Robert James Waller.
The story is told in flashbacks from a diary which was found by Francesca's children, Michael and Caroline (Victor Slezak and Annie Corley), after her death. The diary is 30 years old, and tells the story of 4 days that changed their mothers life forever.
Clint Eastwood plays Robert Kincaid, a handsome bachelor and photgrapher who works for National Geographic. His latest project is to photograph the famous bridges of Madison County, hence the title of the film.
When Robert arrives in Madison County, he asks Francesca Jones, (played by Meryl Streep), for directions to the bridges, and there is an instant chemistry. Francesca has just seen off her husband and 2 children as they have gone to a farming event in another county for a few days, and until now she has never questioned her happiness with her husband and family.
Francesca finds herself becoming more and more drawn to Robert, and they embark on a blissful affair while she is alone at home. Robert is everything her husband is not, and she finds this enticing.
Francesca is faced with choices, and she decides to stay with her family, as she feels she has to live up to her responsibilities rather than follow her heart and she has to watch Robert walk out of her life. My heart literally ached for Francesca's character when I watched this scene.
Their lives cross only briefly once more, but they never speak again, and Francesca never leaves her husband, and eventually he dies. The way back to Robert seems clear, but without giving away more of the plot than I have already done, it is not that easy.
The diary forces her children to scrutinise thier own lives and make choices, and I also think the viewer will start asking questions of themselves.
r><br>This is a love story, and it reinforces the theory that everyone has a soul mate and you should take the chance when you get it. The music used in the film is beautiful, and so well suited to the mood of the film.
The actors are superb, and they have brought an excellent novel to life. Eastwood proves that he is not only a talented actor, but a very capable director too.
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