The Handmaid’s Tale (1990): A Simplified Overview of The Film Based on a Banned Book

The Handmaid's Tale is a 1990 dystopian film, based on the 1985 novel by Canadian author Margaret Atwood. Directed by Volker Schlöndorff, the movie features Natasha Richardson as the lead character, Offred (or Kate), alongside Faye Dunaway, Robert Duvall, Aidan Quinn, and Elizabeth McGovern. 

The screenplay was written by renowned playwright Harold Pinter, with music composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto.

Key Points

▶ Title: The Handmaid's Tale

▶ Author: Margaret Atwood (novel)

▶ Director: Volker Schlöndorff

▶ Main Cast:

  - Natasha Richardson as Offred

  - Faye Dunaway as Serena Joy

  - Robert Duvall as The Commander

  - Aidan Quinn as Nick

  - Elizabeth McGovern as Moira

▶ Screenplay: Harold Pinter

▶ Music Composer: Ryuichi Sakamoto

▶  Awards: Entered in the 40th Berlin International Film Festival

The Handmaid's Tale (1990) – Simplified Plot Summary

Setting: A Broken World

In the near future, the Republic of Gilead (formerly the United States) is a nation torn apart by war and pollution. Most of the population is sterile, and the society is controlled by a strict religious regime. Fertile women are forced to become Handmaids, whose only purpose is to bear children for the powerful elite.

Kate's Escape Attempt

Kate, her husband Luke, and their daughter Jill try to escape Gilead and flee to Canada. As they cross the border on foot, they are stopped by the Gilead Border Guards. 

Luke distracts the guards and is shot, allowing Kate to escape momentarily. Jill, confused and scared, disappears into the wilderness. Kate is captured by the authorities and taken away.

Life as a Handmaid

Kate is sent to a training center with other women to be turned into Handmaids. These women are trained to serve powerful but barren couples, following a religious doctrine mixed with violence and control. Kate tries to resist, but soon she is assigned to a Commander named Fred and his cold wife, Serena Joy. Kate is renamed "Offred" (meaning she belongs to Fred).

Natasha Richardson as Kate or Offred in The Handmaid's Tale (1990)

A Life of Despair

As a Handmaid, Kate’s life is empty and harsh. She endures the horrific "Ceremony," where she is forced to lie between Serena Joy's legs while the Commander rapes her in hopes of making her pregnant. Kate constantly dreams of her past, haunted by her husband’s death and the loss of her daughter.

A Risky Plan

Kate learns from a doctor that many of the men in Gilead, including the Commander, are likely sterile. Desperate to have a child, Serena Joy convinces Kate to secretly sleep with another man to get pregnant. In exchange, Serena Joy promises to show Kate proof that her daughter, Jill, is still alive.

Nick and Kate

Serena Joy arranges for Kate to meet Nick, the Commander’s driver. Nick is kind to Kate, and they develop feelings for each other. 

Kate becomes pregnant with Nick's child, giving her hope for the future. Meanwhile, the Commander tries to get closer to Kate, giving her books and other items that are forbidden in Gilead.

Escape and Freedom

One night, Kate kills the Commander. 

When the police arrive, she initially believes they are the Eyes, the government’s secret police. However, they turn out to be members of the resistance, known as Mayday, and Nick is part of this group. The rebels help Kate escape, but she has to leave Nick behind, leading to an emotional farewell.

### A New Life

Kate, now free and pregnant, lives alone in a trailer, receiving information from the resistance. Though her future is uncertain, she holds onto the hope of finding her daughter and reuniting with Nick.

A World in Crisis

Set in the future, The Handmaid’s Tale shows a world where pollution and war have left most people infertile. The Republic of Gilead (formerly the USA) is ruled by a strict religious regime, and fertile women, called Handmaids, are forced to bear children for the elite.

The Journey of Offred

The story follows Kate (later named Offred), who, along with her husband and daughter, tries to flee to Canada. They are caught, and Kate’s husband is shot. Kate is taken to a training center where she is conditioned to be a Handmaid. She is assigned to a powerful man, "The Commander" (Fred), and his wife, Serena Joy, to provide them with a child. 

Life as a Handmaid

Kate’s life in Gilead is full of suffering. She is regularly raped by the Commander as part of the "Ceremony," a ritual designed to make her pregnant. 

However, she forms a bond with Nick, the Commander’s chauffeur, and becomes pregnant with his child instead. With Nick’s help, she escapes Gilead and joins the resistance movement.

Fertile Women are being trained to be handmaids

Main Characters

Offred (Kate): The protagonist, a Handmaid forced into servitude.

Serena Joy: The Commander’s wife, cold and controlling.

The Commander (Fred): A high-ranking official who forces Offred into bearing a child for him.

Nick: The Commander’s chauffeur who helps Kate escape.

Moira: Offred’s best friend from her past life.

Production and Writing

The film had a complicated production process. 

Harold Pinter, who initially wrote the screenplay, expressed dissatisfaction with the changes made to his script during filming. He attempted to remove his name from the credits but was unsuccessful. 

Despite his concerns, the movie proceeded with his partially completed screenplay, and Margaret Atwood, the author of the original novel, also contributed to the adaptation.

Reception

The film received mixed reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a low approval rating of 30%, with many critics expressing confusion over the film's message. 

Roger Ebert gave it 2 out of 4 stars, commenting on the film’s difficulty in conveying its deeper themes. Critics praised the visual style of the film but criticized its lack of clarity in storytelling.

Critical Response

Roger Ebert: 2/4 stars, unsure of the movie’s message.

Entertainment Weekly (Owen Gleiberman): Gave it a "C−" rating, calling the movie "paranoid poppycock."

John Simon (National Review): Called the film "inept and annoying."

Filming Locations

Some key scenes in the film were shot in North Carolina. For example, the scene where the hanging occurs was filmed at Duke University, while other scenes took place at Saint Mary’s School in Raleigh.

Conclusion

The Handmaid's Tale (1990) is a complex adaptation of a celebrated novel, but its development was fraught with challenges. While it featured a strong cast and striking visuals, the movie struggled to translate the book’s intricate themes to the screen, resulting in mixed critical reactions. 

Today, it stands as a reminder of the difficulties in adapting literary works for film.