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The French Lieutenant's Woman

Play trailer Poster for The French Lieutenant's Woman R Released Sep 18, 1981 2h 3m Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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83% Tomatometer 30 Reviews 67% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
In this story-within-a-story, Anna (Meryl Streep) is an actress starring opposite Mike (Jeremy Irons) in a period piece about the forbidden love between their respective characters, Sarah and Charles. Both actors are involved in serious relationships, but the passionate nature of the script leads to an off-camera love affair as well. While attempting to maintain their composure and professionalism, Anna and Mike struggle to come to terms with their infidelity.
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The French Lieutenant's Woman

Critics Reviews

View All (30) Critics Reviews
Diane Haithman Detroit Free Press An appealing movie... of extraordinary visual beauty, with superbly subtle performances by Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons, particularly Irons. Rated: 3/4 Mar 23, 2021 Full Review Kim Newman Empire Magazine Both are perfect in their duel roles. Adapted elliptically by Harold Pinter from John Fowles' daring novel and directed with his usual deep frozen reserve by Karel Reisz Rated: 3/5 May 10, 2019 Full Review Bob Thomas Associated Press The period drama is richly textured and acted with intensity by Meryl Streep, Jeremy Irons and a superior cast. Oct 22, 2018 Full Review Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal Screenwriter Harold Pinter's adaptation of John Fowles’ novel offers a thematically playful treatise on the prism through which we view passions of our past & how few (or how many) of the ensuing consequences each partner is forced to carry moving ahead. Rated: 3.5/5 Jun 22, 2024 Full Review Dilys Powell Punch Two themes, dramatic and emotional, two love-stories which run parallel, coincide, fuse, part company again -- it is the matching and balancing of the two which, as one reflects on The French Lieutenant’s Woman first surprises. Oct 2, 2023 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy A lush period drama that manages to criticize outmoded patriarchal standards. Rated: 3.5/4 Sep 18, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (247) audience reviews
Rick R I did not find this movie entertaining, nor very interesting. slow Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/28/24 Full Review David E I expect an ending, not just stopping because the film is already long enough. I do NOT recommend this movie, unless you want to see good acting and interesting settings and characters. If you want a story with a resolution, you don't want this movie. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 08/07/23 Full Review Jelisije J An under appreciated romantic beautiful film. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/22/23 Full Review william k Beautifully photographed and staged and well cast romance drama has a complex narrative structure set in two time periods that seemingly interact with each other and seems to try to say something deep, but in the end it's mainly just an upscale tearjerker. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review jon c How much of the romance is actually real? What's the actual role we are playing? Based on the book by John Fowles and directed by Karel Reisz In a meta way this looks like a period piece but we also see that it's a movie-within-a-movie Jeremy Irons plays Charles and Meryl Streep plays Sarah Both are on the Southern coast of England filming a movie during the Victorian Era Charles' character is married but having an affair while Sarah is single and becomes the towns gossip once she and Charles meet Sarah was mistreated when her husband left to go fight off to war by other men therefore leading to her ostracization deeming her a harlot Off-screen Irons is Mike who's real romance is with his co-star, Streep as Ana who also engage in infidelity Yet as their romance blossoms it's hard to tell what's authentic The movie has two incredible leads, some nice intercutting of the two romances, and fantastic scenery with its attention to historical detail It's just too long and the on-screen romance is way more interesting than the off-screen one The endings are massively different too which is a big juxtaposition in itself But there is visual beauty to be had and comparing and contrasting love both on-camera and off Both Irons and Streep act immensely with the film managing to criticize outmoded patriarchal standards Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Sweepingly scored, handsomely lensed and exquisitely acted, this adaptation of John Fowles' unfilmable novel of multiple endings and about a forbidden romance of a gentleman and the titular disgraced protagonist lends another perspective on contemporary desires fidelity in the mise-en-scène of a film within a film. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The French Lieutenant's Woman

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The French Lieutenant's Woman

The French Lieutenant's Woman: Official Clip - There Was Madness in Me The French Lieutenant's Woman: Official Clip - There Was Madness in Me 2:05 The French Lieutenant's Woman: Official Clip - I Was the First The French Lieutenant's Woman: Official Clip - I Was the First 2:43 The French Lieutenant's Woman: Official Clip - Anna Leaves The French Lieutenant's Woman: Official Clip - Anna Leaves 1:31 The French Lieutenant's Woman: Official Clip - The French Lieutenant's Whore The French Lieutenant's Woman: Official Clip - The French Lieutenant's Whore 4:01 The French Lieutenant's Woman: Official Clip - On the Sea Wall The French Lieutenant's Woman: Official Clip - On the Sea Wall 1:38 The French Lieutenant's Woman: Official Clip - A Free Woman The French Lieutenant's Woman: Official Clip - A Free Woman 0:43 The French Lieutenant's Woman: Official Clip - A Fireplace Romance The French Lieutenant's Woman: Official Clip - A Fireplace Romance 2:11 The French Lieutenant's Woman: Official Clip - Scene Rehearsal The French Lieutenant's Woman: Official Clip - Scene Rehearsal 1:47 The French Lieutenant's Woman: Official Clip - A Proper Talk The French Lieutenant's Woman: Official Clip - A Proper Talk 1:08 The French Lieutenant's Woman: Official Clip - A Mockery of Love The French Lieutenant's Woman: Official Clip - A Mockery of Love 2:02 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis In this story-within-a-story, Anna (Meryl Streep) is an actress starring opposite Mike (Jeremy Irons) in a period piece about the forbidden love between their respective characters, Sarah and Charles. Both actors are involved in serious relationships, but the passionate nature of the script leads to an off-camera love affair as well. While attempting to maintain their composure and professionalism, Anna and Mike struggle to come to terms with their infidelity.
Director
Karel Reisz
Producer
Leon Clore
Screenwriter
Harold Pinter
Distributor
United Artists
Production Co
Juniper Films
Rating
R
Genre
Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 18, 1981, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 16, 2008
Runtime
2h 3m
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