Anna and Mike portray two characters in a film set in 19th century England who fall in love despite the fact that Mike's character is engaged.Anna and Mike portray two characters in a film set in 19th century England who fall in love despite the fact that Mike's character is engaged.Anna and Mike portray two characters in a film set in 19th century England who fall in love despite the fact that Mike's character is engaged.
- Nominated for 5 Oscars
- 11 wins & 20 nominations total
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe source novel does not feature the subplot of the actors and actresses playing the parts in a modern day movie. However, it had three alternate endings, from which readers could choose their favorite. Creating two parallel story lines allowed the filmmakers to include two of those endings, one happy and one tragic.
- GoofsWhile at the house in the Lake District, the reaction to Sarah being pushed to the ground by Charles is genuine. Meryl Streep actually hits her head on the floor and when Jeremy Irons acknowledges, she nods, giggles, and reorients herself in position next to him.
- Quotes
Sarah: I knew it was ordained that I should never marry an equal; so, I married shame. It is my shame that has kept me alive - my knowing that I am truly not like other women. I - I shall never, like them, have - children and a husband, and the pleasures of a home. Sometimes I pity them. I have a freedom they cannot understand. No insult, no blame, can touch me. I have set myself beyond the pale. I am nothing. I am hardly human any more. I am the French lieutenant's - whore!
- ConnectionsFeatured in The South Bank Show: The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)
Of course it was a bit cheesy, but less cheesy than most Hollywood movies. Actually, the whole movie was quite realistic. Of course this movie is mainly for women. - It's a love story! Yet, I find it has more to offer to male viewers than other love stories. The main actor is male. An absolutely interesting character. A character that is trying hard to be good, but isn't perfect at all. A character you can actually identify with. And my god, Jeremy Irons played that character so well.
This movie has a calm and melancholic atmosphere. I am sure many people will mistake it for "boredom". - Not me; the story is so interesting, that it kept me curious throughout the whole movie. I really didn't know how this story was ending. And yet, the ending satisfied me totally. An extremely unusual case for me.
My pretty much only gripe about the movie is, that the story in the 20th century is suffering in length. While characters and storyline are in perfect shape when it comes to 19th century, the story and characters lack depth, when it comes to the 20th century.
Details
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- Country of origin
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- Also known as
- Die Geliebte des französischen Leutnants
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Box office
- Budget
- $8,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $26,890,068
- Gross worldwide
- $26,890,068