The Handmaid's Tale (1990)

The Handmaid's Tale (1990) (DVD) (*)

$20.99

Screened, competed or awarded at:
Berlin International Film Festival
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
Dutch ( Subtitles )
English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )

Product Origin/Format:
Netherlands ( PAL/Region 0 )

Running Time:
109 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (1.78:1)

Special Features:
Interactive Menu
Scene Access

Movie filmed in 1990 and produced in:
Germany ( Germany, Central Europe )
United States ( USA, Canada )

Directed By:
Volker Schlöndorff

Written By:
Margaret Atwood
Harold Pinter

Actors:
Natasha Richardson ..... Kate /
Offred ..... Serena Joy
Faye Dunaway ..... Nick
Aidan Quinn ..... Moira
Elizabeth McGovern ..... Aunt Lydia
Victoria Tennant ..... Commander
Robert Duvall ..... Ofglen
Blanche Baker ..... Janine / Ofwarren
Traci Lind ..... Aunt Helena
Zoey Wilson ..... Aunt Elizabeth
Kathryn Doby ..... Luke (as Rainer Schoene)
Reiner Schöne ..... Cora
Lucia Hartpeng ..... Aunt Sara
Karma Ibsen Riley ..... Rita
Lucile McIntyre ..... Officer on Bus
Gary Bullock

Synopsis:

Set in a Fascistic future America, The Handmaid's Tale tells the story of Kate, a handmaid. In this America, the religious right has taken over and gone hog-wild. Kate is a criminal, guilty of the crime of trying to escape from the US, and is sentenced to become a Handmaid. The job of a Handmaid is to bear the children of the man to whom she is assigned. After ruthless group training by Aunt Lydia in the proper way to behave, Kate is assigned as Handmaid to the Commander. Kate is attracted to Nick, the Commander's chauffeur. At the same time, a resistance movement begins to challenge the regime.

Following a coup, America is a country still at war with itself and ruled by a repressive Bible-inspired regime. Past pollution means only 1% of women can bear children, and anyone committing a crime and found to be a potential mother is put into an institution run by 'Aunt Lydia' to be indoctrinated ready for this. One such is Kate, who then goes on to Fred, a high-up in the security forces, to attempt to procreate. Fred's wife Serena is jealous and vicious, and the State's grip seems to be tightening. But Kate still has her own mind, and is finding that some other people are prepared to resist.

In a dystopicly polluted rightwing religious tyranny, a young woman is put in sexual slavery on account of her now rare fertility.

This product was added to our catalog on Thursday 06 April, 2023.