The Handmaid's Tale (1990)

In a dystopian, polluted right wing religious tyranny, a young woman is put in sexual slavery on account of her now rare fertility.

Director:

Volker Schlöndorff (as Volker Schlondorff)

Writers:

Margaret Atwood (novel), Harold Pinter (screenplay)

Stars:

Natasha Richardson, Faye Dunaway, Aidan Quinn

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Natasha Richardson	...	Kate
Faye Dunaway	...	Serena Joy
Aidan Quinn	...	Nick
Elizabeth McGovern	...	Moira
Victoria Tennant	...	Aunt Lydia
Robert Duvall	...	Commander
Blanche Baker	...	Ofglen
Traci Lind	...	Ofwarren / Janine
Zoey Wilson	...	Aunt Helena
Kathryn Doby	...	Aunt Elizabeth
Reiner Schöne	...	Luke (as Rainer Schoene)
Lucia Hartpeng	...	Cora
Karma Ibsen Riley	...	Aunt Sara
Lucile McIntyre	...	Rita
Gary Bullock	...	Officer on Bus

Storyline

Set in a Fascistic future America, The Handmaid's Tale tells the story of Kate, a handmaid. In this America, the religious right has taken over and gone hog-wild. Kate is a criminal, guilty of the crime of trying to escape from the US, and is sentenced to become a Handmaid. The job of a Handmaid is to bear the children of the man to whom she is assigned. After ruthless group training by Aunt Lydia in the proper way to behave, Kate is assigned as Handmaid to the Commander. Kate is attracted to Nick, the Commander's chauffeur. At the same time, a resistance movement begins to challenge the regime.

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Plot Keywords:

fundamentalist religion | dystopia | pantyhose | impregnation | totalitarian state | 

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Taglines:

One woman's story. Every woman's fear.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

The opening prologue states: "Once upon a time in the recent future, a country went wrong. The country was called The Republic of Gilead". This wordage is also quoted in the movie's main trailer.

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Goofs

Time of day as Moira breaks out of the Red Center and passes the guards.

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Quotes

Aunt Lydia: You are the lucky ones. You are going to serve God and country. I pronounce you handmaids.

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Connections

Referenced in The Staircase (2004)

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Soundtracks

Save A Soul In Every Town
Written by Henry Priestman
Published by 10 Music Ltd.
Performed by The Christians
Courtesy of Island Records

User Reviews

Startling visual impact

The handmaids in brilliant red, the wives in electric blue, the children in white--Margaret Atwood's neo-fascist state comes startingly alive in Schloendorff's film. The bright colors are oppressive in their uniformity, whether in the "ceremony"--Robert Duvall's passionless copulation with Natasha Richardson as she lies in the lap of his sterile wife, Faye Dunaway--or in the party to celebrate the birth of a handmaid's child, or the execution of another handmaid for fornication. There are several fine actors--Elizabeth McGovern and Aidan Quinn also play memorable, if brief, roles--but the cinematography steals the show here, giving this anti-Utopia the same oppressive tension as the original 1984 and far surpassing any version of Brave New World. It may be that Atwood's book, which I haven't read, adds layers of depth to the characters and plot, but Schloendorff's visualisation is a real enhancement to the tale. He creates the tension of a police state with only momentary intrusions of brutality or machinery. A strong film that will gain its following with time.

Details

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 March 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Handmaid's Tale

Filming Locations:

James Adams Buchanan House, 1810 Cedar St, Durham, North Carolina, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$738,578, 11 March 1990

Gross USA:

$4,960,385

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,960,385

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bioskop Film, Cinecom Entertainment Group, Cinétudes Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1