This is a haunting, psychologically compelling story about what theUnited States might be like under a right wing, fundamentalisttheocracy. Adapted by the acclaimed playwright Harold Pinter from thenovel by Margaret Atwood, this is a tale of the suppression of women bya totalitarian state called the 'Republic of Gilead.' In some respectsone is reminded of Orwell's 1984: the endless war from without,designed to keep the populace preoccupied and beholden to the state;the paucity of basic food stuffs and consumer goods expect for theruling class, the general hopelessness, etc. There is horrendouspollution so that most women are not fertile, yet the state needsbabies for the war effort and the economy. Consequently women's bodiesare taken over by the state, and those women that are fertile are madeto bear children for the sterile leaders. Those who are not fertile arereduced to servitude. All overt sexual expression and any kind ofactivity not in keeping with the strict dictates of the fundamentalistreligion is forbidden, and transgressions are punishable by death,sometimes in public hangings. In one ugly scene the handmaidsthemselves are made to pull the rope that attaches to the noose thatstrangles a wayward handmaid. This is followed by a man accused of rapebeing thrown to the handmaids, who literally rip him apart with theirbare hands.<br><br>Natasha Richardson has the starring role as a fertile handmaid for theCommander (Robert Duvall). She is not artificially inseminated(presumably since that would be against the dictates of the religion,which is, by the way, a kind of repressive fundamentalistChristianity), instead there is a 'ceremony' in which the Commander'swife (Faye Dunaway) holds her hands (as they both wear veils) while theCommander with his clothes still on--Well, one can imagine.<br><br>I read the novel some years ago and was struck not by Atwood's attackon fundamentalist Christianity as much as I was by her attack on men,period. Harold Pinter's screenplay and Volker Schlondorff's directionemphasize the hypocrisy, willful ignorance and anti-human aspects offundamentalism while attributing the sexism to the patriarchalreligion. What is stunningly topical (viewing this in the year of OurLord 2002) is the parallel between the repressive fundamentalisttheocracy of Atwood's vision and that of the Taliban. The subjugationof women, using them strictly as servants or as reproductive machines,their bodies covered and their heads veiled (in bright red), is astriking bit of dead-on foresight by Atwood, Pinter and Schlondorff.This movie was perhaps made a decade ahead of its time.<br><br>Richardson is very good in her characteristic way. She has a qualityunlike most movie stars in that she projects primarily not her looks orcharisma or even her vitality, but instead her individual will, aquality that is exactly right for the part. Faye Dunaway as thecommander's wife acts out (in contrasting blue) a kind of Daughters ofthe American Revolution club woman mentality to a tee. Duvall iswonderfully slimy as a warlord hypocrite always claiming to act in thename of God. (Seems familiar.) Elizabeth McGovern is believable as asexy lesbian handmaid (a 'gender criminal') while Victoria Tennant("Aunt Lydia") is a kind of drill sergeant housemother to thehandmaids. Aidan Quinn gets to be Richardson's heroic lover.<br><br>This may not be entirely faithful to the book, but it is a fine work inits own right. The direction is intelligent and focused and the scriptby Pinter excellent. The acting is superior all around and the story istrue in a psychologically sense. This movie is also a warning that itcould happen here.<br><br>(Note: Over 500 of my movie reviews are now available in my book "Cutto the Chaise Lounge or I Can't Believe I Swallowed the Remote!" Get itat Amazon!)
May 04, 2018 The Handmaid's Tale Season 1 is one of the series that you can download torrent or magnet on ETRG website. This Crime tv show was created by Bruce Miller and it was published in 2017 with duration of 1 hour. Scroll down for more information about how to download The Handmaid's Tale Season 1 torrent. The Handmaid's Tale is the story of life in the dystopia of Gilead, a totalitarian society in what was formerly the United States. Facing environmental disasters and a plunging birthrate, Gilead is ruled by a twisted fundamentalism in its militarized ‘return to traditional values'.