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The French Lieutenant's Woman

1981 · Movie · R · 124 min · ★ 6.5 · 73% critics

DramaRomanceHistory

A film production intercuts a Victorian romance with the modern lives of the two leads making it. As the on-screen story explores forbidden love and social pressure, the off-screen relationship begins to blur the line between performance and real desire, testing commitments and self-control.

Based on The French Lieutenant's Woman

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Details
Years
1981
Release date
1981-08-28
Language
English
Rated
R
Runtime
124 min
Max quality
HD
Critic score
73/100
TMDB rating
6.5/10 (243 votes)
About

You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a thoughtful, adult romance that contrasts social rules with personal desire across two intertwined storylines; Not for you if you dislike slow pacing or stories about infidelity like Anna Karenina.

Pros: clever story-within-story; strong lead performances; rich period atmosphere | Cons: modern plot feels colder; pacing can drag; early switches feel jarring

Themes

  • adultery
  • based on novel or book
  • lieutenant
  • love
  • tragedy
  • dorset

Awards & recognition

  • BAFTA AwardBest Actress in a Leading Role · 1982
  • BAFTA AwardBest Sound · 1982
  • Academy AwardBest Writing, Adapted Screenplay · 1982 · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Actress · 1982 · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Film Editing · 1982 · nominated
Show all 8 awards →
  • Academy AwardBest Costume Design · 1982 · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Production Design · 1982 · nominated
  • Golden Globe AwardBest Screenplay · 1981 · nominated

Cast & crew

Directed by Karel Reisz