I have read the book by Robert James Waller once, and seen the story come to life under the direction of Clint Eastwood thrice. Well, today was the third time, and since they say third time is a charm, I've decided to try to write in words what I feel.
The story is about a photographer named Robert Kincaid visiting Madison County for a few days on a project that has him covering the bridges of that place and his meeting Francesca Johnson who is a housewife whose life revolves around her family. The story is about their love, the intensity of which is so much that four days of togetherness change their lives for ever.
The beauty of the film are the moments that have been captured with just silence, a touch or a smile. The undercurrent of emotions in every frame is something that Clint Eastwood is known best for. It is an eternal love story and as the film progresses you tend to relate to the characters and the emotions they feel.
Robert is a free-spirit wanderer, his life is a journey from one place to the other, whereas Francesca has spent all her life in Madison County in the comforts of her home and family. Yet, there is a strong sense of sadness that looms around her and we get a glimpse of it when she admits that this was probably not what she had dreamed of when she was a girl.
For Francesca, Robert is someone she could never be, she is fascinated by his stories, his life. When he mentions that he got down from the train to stay in Bari for the place was pretty, Francesca keeps questioning him about it twice just to understand that someone like him exists. As they get to known each other they both realise that it is only in each other's company they come alive.
For Francesca, Robert becomes an outlet to the world she had long bid goodbye. Her old dreams and desires resurface in his presence. The family dinners that were spent in silence gets replaced with dinners full of conversation when it comes to Robert. He makes her feel desired and needed, her companionship is valued by him, whereas in the case of her family her role in their lives has been taken for granted.
But the crux of the film was the choices they had to make. They both are aware that these feelings no matter how strong would come to an end when Francesca's family would return. It is about the pain and anguish they feel once reality hits them. Is it worth taking a chance? Can you leave behind your life, family just for love? Does love really conquer it all?And will you be able to accept the consequences of your choices? For as Francesca says, "We are the choices we make."
For me Bridges of Madison County is a story of love that we all seek, but choose to believe is non-existent. We believe that it is okay to let routine life consume that passion which was once felt. It is okay to take the other person for granted. And it is okay for the fire to fizzle out, for after a while love is replaced by familiarity. So, one more Francesca is born, waiting for some Robert to make her feel alive.
As the movie ends I wonder would their love remain eternal and chaste had Francesca made a different choice?
I still love the book and the movie for it's complexities and for immortalizing love, but I am left to wander would their love too become a victim of routine? Watch it understand a little more about love and life thru a tinted glass. :)
Robert Kincaid: This kind of certainty comes but just once in a lifetime.
The beauty of the film are the moments that have been captured with just silence, a touch or a smile. The undercurrent of emotions in every frame is something that Clint Eastwood is known best for. It is an eternal love story and as the film progresses you tend to relate to the characters and the emotions they feel.
Robert is a free-spirit wanderer, his life is a journey from one place to the other, whereas Francesca has spent all her life in Madison County in the comforts of her home and family. Yet, there is a strong sense of sadness that looms around her and we get a glimpse of it when she admits that this was probably not what she had dreamed of when she was a girl.
For Francesca, Robert is someone she could never be, she is fascinated by his stories, his life. When he mentions that he got down from the train to stay in Bari for the place was pretty, Francesca keeps questioning him about it twice just to understand that someone like him exists. As they get to known each other they both realise that it is only in each other's company they come alive.
For Francesca, Robert becomes an outlet to the world she had long bid goodbye. Her old dreams and desires resurface in his presence. The family dinners that were spent in silence gets replaced with dinners full of conversation when it comes to Robert. He makes her feel desired and needed, her companionship is valued by him, whereas in the case of her family her role in their lives has been taken for granted.
But the crux of the film was the choices they had to make. They both are aware that these feelings no matter how strong would come to an end when Francesca's family would return. It is about the pain and anguish they feel once reality hits them. Is it worth taking a chance? Can you leave behind your life, family just for love? Does love really conquer it all?And will you be able to accept the consequences of your choices? For as Francesca says, "We are the choices we make."
For me Bridges of Madison County is a story of love that we all seek, but choose to believe is non-existent. We believe that it is okay to let routine life consume that passion which was once felt. It is okay to take the other person for granted. And it is okay for the fire to fizzle out, for after a while love is replaced by familiarity. So, one more Francesca is born, waiting for some Robert to make her feel alive.
As the movie ends I wonder would their love remain eternal and chaste had Francesca made a different choice?
I still love the book and the movie for it's complexities and for immortalizing love, but I am left to wander would their love too become a victim of routine? Watch it understand a little more about love and life thru a tinted glass. :)
Robert Kincaid: This kind of certainty comes but just once in a lifetime.
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