The French Lieutenant's Woman

Marking its 45th anniversary, Karel Reisz's THE FRENCH LIEUTENANT'S WOMAN, adapted by the playwright Harold Pinter, based on John Fowles' 1969 novel, follows a pair of actors that see their forbidden romance mirrored in the characters they play. Actors Anna (Meryl Streep) and Mike (Jeremy Irons) portray two characters in a film set in 19th century England, Charles, a paleontologist, and Sarah, an outcast. Even though Charles is already engaged, he falls in love with Sarah, and they begin a passionate affair. While actors Anna and Mike are living in the liberated 1980s, their characters Sarah and Charles are confined by the expectations and rigidities of Victorian society. Despite the different circumstances of the two pairs, they begin to find themselves increasingly intertwined, as the two romances are juxtaposed. The film features fine craftsmanship and an acting showcase from the ensemble, and for her commanding performance, Meryl Streep received her first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role.