The French Lieutenant’s Woman

THE FRENCH LIEUTENANT’S WOMAN (15)

D: Karel Reisz

United Artists (Leon Clore)

UK 🇬🇧 1981

127 mins

Drama/Romance

W: Harold Pinter [based on the novel by John Fowler]

DP: Freddie Francis

Ed: John Bloom

Mus: Carl Davis

PD: Assheton Gorton

Cos: Tom Rand

Meryl Streep (Sarah Woodruff / Anna), Jeremy Irons (Charles Henry Smith / Mike), Hilton McRae (Sam), Emily Morgan (Mary), Charlotte Mitchell (Mrs. Tranter), Lynsey Baxter (Ernestina Freeman)

The French Lieutenant’s Woman is something of a novelty, since it presents a rather ordinary and hackneyed period drama romance that is told in quite an unorthodox way.

The film begins in a telling way that the main story is, in fact, a film within a film and through that framing device, we are introduced to the character of Sarah Woodruff (Meryl Streep), a mysterious but enigmatic woman who captures the eye of Charles Henry Smith (Jeremy Irons), a recently engaged gentleman who becomes increasingly captivated by the reclusive woman, dubbed “The French Lieutenant’s Whore” by the locals.

Intercut with the period drama are contemporary scenes featuring Anna & Mike (also played by Streep & Irons), two actors who have an affair whilst shooting a film based on the aforementioned events, with their respective relationship running similar parallels.

Whilst I’m the first to admit that period dramas aren’t my favourite genre, this one did keep me engaged via its dual storyline which lifted it well above the ordinary.

Meryl Streep delivers one of her finest screen performances, and the film probably features arguably the most iconic image of her acting career.

7/10