Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2808 in VHS
• Released on: 1998-07-13
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Dolby, PAL, Surround Sound
• Original language: English, German
• Number of tapes: 1
• Running time: 104 minutes

Synopsis
The end of the 20th Century finds a repressed society run by puritans and the majority of women barren. Under this new regime fertile women are handmaids and are placed among important childless couples to become pregnant. Kate is one such woman...co-operating means survival...

Customer Reviews

Literary Slaughter
After studying the novel, and reading several of Atwoods other works, I found this movie to be a gross misrepresentation of her dystopic masterpiece. Whereas the novel gained it's strength from ambiguity and ignorance the film tacks answers onto a story that was better off without them (Offreds name and Lukes fate being two obvious examples). The end is not only forced and non-sensical, but serves to undermine the sinister Republic of Gilead. This is all to say nothing of the uninspired dialogue and wooden acting. More than dissapointing; appalling.

The Handmaid's Tale
I would recommend this film to any Margaret Atwood lover. The book is great, and although the film has slight alterations and adaptations it really is an amazing interpretation of the original book. Although it isn't for the faint hearted and in places is quite brutal or graphic, it is a truly excellant film for thrills and shocks. It will have you on the edge of your seat; whilst also causing your mind to think about what this world is coming to and where we are going as a species.

A great adaptation of a wonderful novel.
I thought that this film was very entertaining, and helpful to my A-level course, i would recommend anyone that is studying this book as part of their course to watch this, i found that although i had read the book, i still enjoyed it very much, as it also has some added material. I dont think its for anyone who is very squeemish though. I also enjoyed the romance in the film, which i think that books often dont portray as well.