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Adam Bede [1992] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
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Our Price: £5.61 (subject to change)
Excellent
Review date: 2008-03-06 Rating: 8 out of 10
I thought the movie was extremely well-done and I enjoyed every bit of it.
I have not read the book, so I do not have that added perspective. I do think Adam Bede, the main character, is an upstanding moral fellow. I do not think he is so black and white as the editorial review suggests, that he cannot see shades of gray. He is concerned not only for his own well-being, but is also concerned for those he loves, as well. I did not take him to be so stuck in his moral absolutes, that he judged others unfairly.
Adam loves Hetty. Hetty is beautiful and aspires for something more than working in the village. On the back of the box and maybe in the book, she comes across as selfish and vain. In this movie, she comes across as wanting more than she has, but not out of selfishness or vanity, out of mild ambition and desire-- the same way most of us would want something more if our prospects were bleak. However, this is Victorian England and the class system make this almost an absolute impossibility. Hetty foolishly ignores the probability that an affair with an aristocrat will go nowhere, and she falls in love with the kind and handsome landowner. She has an affair with him and gets pregnant, despite the fact that she's led Adam to believe she is interested in him and despite the fact that he loves her and intends to marry her.
This is a heartbreaking and suspenseful film. All the characters are likeable and the "villain" isn't really one person, it's a whole culture-- the class system and the obstacles one faces if he or she doesn't have a title and money behind him or her.
Although there is no happy ending for Hetty, it's not as bad as it could have been (no spoilers here), and the end result seems fitting and bittersweet.
Definitely recommended.
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Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Patsy Kensit
Susannah Harker
Julia McKenzie
Iain Glen
James Wilby
Creators:
Iain Glen (Primary Contributor)
Patsy Kensit (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: BBC Warner
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
EAN: 0794051288127
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Closed-captioned, Colour, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC,
Release date: 2007-04-17
Universal product code (UPC): 794051288127
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Region code: 1
Running time: 102 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1992-03-01
Language: English (Original Language)