The Best Romantic Movie Ever?. Review on The Bridges of Madison County Movie

Considering my inability to adequately comprehend and follow the English language spoken in most Hollywood movies, I make it a point to first read the book (if the movie is based on one) and then watch the movie so that the money spent on the ticket is not entirely flushed down the drain.

The only earlier exception to this was John Grisham’s “The Pelican Brief”. Totally unaware of the legal complexities in the plot and lingo, I rushed in excitement to watch Julia Roberts on the very first day. By the end of it, I had no clue at all as to what had transpired on the screen. The second exception was a few days ago when I bought the VCD of “Bridges of Madison County”.

Though I was aware that Robert James Waller had written this classic, I never really got an opportunity to read the book. Thankfully, there were no bouncers whizzing past my ears this time. The story is amazingly simple though I must admit that I was a bit intrigued on seeing “The Man With No Name” (or “Dirty Harry” or “Blondie”, as he’s more affectionately called) in the title role.

The movie was a novel (pun intended) experience for me in more ways than one. The movie starts off after the actual story has ended (surprised?). A brother and sister, now well into their mid-forties are summoned back to their ancestral home in Madison County on hearing news of the death of their mother, Francesca Johnson (Meryl Streep).

Her strangely worded will stipulates that her mortal remains be cremated and the ashes scattered near one of the local “covered” bridges. Soon, they stumble on her private diaries and papers that shock them all the way to hell and back. Then follows a flashback, the very idea of which is as unbelievable as it is touching.

Francesca is a 45-year old Italian housewife staying with her husband and 2 kids at Madison County, Iowa. While her family is out for 4 days to a fair at Illinois, she bumps into a handsome stranger, Robert Kincaid (Clint Eastwood). Robert is a wandering photographer working for “National Geographic” and out at Iowa to do a photo shoot of the covered bridges there. Apparently lost, he approaches Francesca asking for directions to “Roseman Bridge”.

As she reluctantly agrees to guide him to the bridge, they strike up a lively conversation and before you can say 2+2=4, they become friends and by the next day, lovers. So, what’s new about an affair between an adulterous wife and a wandering maverick, you may well ask. This is no ordinary tale of infatuation, it speaks of a genuine love between the two which is aesthetically sensual and realistically romantic. The relationship between the two starts off as a delicate friendship between two strangers but turns out into a intense physical relationship within no time.

The defining moment for the two comes when, at the end of the four days, Robert asks Francesca to leave her home and family and come away with him. She decides to stay on and serve her family though she knows that Robert is the man of her dreams. The manner in which they both continuing to love, though no longer in touch with each other touched the “C-sharp cord” of my heart strings (sob..sob).

I looked out for the book when on a recent (window) shopping expedition and was surprised to find that the original book is only about 170-odd pages but has been translated into a 2 hour 15 minute saga on the screen. Typical of any “Clintie” movie, the movie does show a tendency to drag in more than a few places which makes me wonder if I could easily have finished reading the book in a shorter span of time than it took to watch the movie. Clintie cleverly uses long periods of silence where the two just stare romantically into each other’s eyes overly a dimly lit dinner table which conveys much more than what a thousand words could ever have.

I’m no diehard romantic and more importantly no maudlin either but I surprised myself by shedding a tear or two at the end – that conveys how effective and touching their unbelievable love story is. I was surprised that an affair lasting just four days could have so much “fizz” and punch in it. If anything, it only goes on to prove that time is no criteria for judging love between two people.

Richard LaGravenese does a brilliant job as the screenplay writer as do Jack N. Green (Cinematography) and Lennie Menhaus (Music). At times, these two aspects become so effective that they act as catalysts between the two lovers. Merly Streep (won an Oscar for this) has probably given the best performance of her career till date. Her ability to communicate a wide array of emotions just through her eyes and gestures clearly marks her out from her contemporaries.

Clint Eastwood (also the director and producer) beguiling switches from his well-established screen persona of a tough-as-nails cowboy into the skin of a 65-year carefree, itinerant, adventure loving man who falls for a woman 20 years younger than him. The additional pressures of being the director and producer notwithstanding, he gives a polished performance that shows him in a completely new light.

The characterization, development and psyche-delving into the minds of the 2 main characters are so well handled that I’m surprised I didn’t feel that Francesca was committing adultery or Robert was taking undue advantage of a beautiful woman all alone in her house.

I’d recommend this movie not just for die-hard romantics. It’s a must-see movie for anyone and everyone who’s ever been in love. I was so amazed at the end of it that I embarked on a long introspection to analyse my own feelings for my loved ones. On devoting a considerable amount of time and thought to the matter, I feel that knowingly or unknowingly, we (or specifically, I) tend to become overly complacent over a period of time and take our loved ones for granted.

Why do so many couples, who have lived together happily for many years end up filing for divorce? Why do we read so often in the newspapers about Hollywood celebrities marrying a new partner every two years? Is it because they did not love each other in the first place? Or is it because of increasing demands that lead to complexities and rifts between a man and woman?

Any answers? Before proferring any, watch this movie.