Review of the Film Version of The Handmaid's Tale

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‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Film Review
The Handmaid’s Tale is a film adapted from Margaret Atwood’s novel, 'The Handmaid’s Tale.' The book gives a vivid description of the totalitarian government of the Gilead Republic. The Atwood’s Gilead society has been locked off and is austerely Gender separated. Besides, based on compliance and fertility, the women are further subdivided into classes. Offred, the main character in the story, reveals what Atwood termed as “the place of women” (Atwood, 72). For instance, Offred is a handmaid. Because she is one of the few fertile women, she’s a surrogate womb for the boss’s wife and constantly in risk of being sent to an isolated encampment in the remote; a camp where the aged and infertile ladies are victimized to death. Through Offred the suffering of women in the Gilead society is expressed (Wisker, 53). For instance, gender harassment is evident; women are treated as objects. Thus, 'The Handmaid’s Tale’ is an evergreen cautionary tale that Atwood put forward for the present generation and the generation to come. Moved by the message in the novel, Volker Schlondorff directed a film, an adoption from the story, and named it after the book, perhaps to give a visual impression of Atwood’s message to the society. Centered in the film, 'The Handmaid’s Tale' our study moves forward focusing on the plot, the setting and the characters.
The Characters
The movie is centered on Offred (or Kate), the film’s main character (Maslin, 15). It is through her that the audience glimpses what Atwood meant by the term ‘the place of women.’ Her life experience demonstrates how the women suffered in the totalitarian regime. Moira, Offred’s best friend is another character in the film. She is also a handmaid in Offred’s neighborhood. Besides, she depicts the image of lesbians in the flick. The commander, he is the person who Offred serves as a handmaid. He is called Fred, and it is from him the Offred gets her name, meaning of Fred. He is married to Serena Joy, a lady who confuses Offred to sleep with Nick so that she can bear her a child and Nick impregnates Offred. Other characters include Luke (Offred’s husband and father to her daughter), Aunt Lydia, and Janine, Offred’s mother, Rita (the commander’s chef), the rebels (soldiers who flee Offred) and the Gilead Guards.
The plot
The Gilead government is overthrown following a coup by the Christian fundamentalist, who takes control of the entire Republic. Gilead becomes ruled only by men who in turn are dedicated to oppressing the women. The men are either warriors, relegated to remote areas or roaming in the corridors of power. Hence, in most parts of the film, it is women who appear. Under the totalitarian government, the women are oppressed. The Gilead government reduces its women subjects to disenfranchised childbearing vessels for the wealthy class (Maslin, 34). Besides, due to a high degree of pollution, it is only a few ladies who can give birth. Those found infertile, and the old are isolated to secret chambers in a remote area where they are mistreated or even subjected to death.
Due to these conditions in the Gilead, Offred, and her family attempts to escape. However, at the border a guard traps them (Pinter et al. 23). The guard orders them to return. However, Offred’s husband attacks them telling her to run. He is shot, and Offred is arrested, while their daughter strolls back alone confused. Offred and other women captured are taken to a handmaid training center. After the training, Offred is allocated the commander’s home where she is renamed Offred and begins her role as a handmaid. For instance, she sleeps with the commander in front of Serena Joy, the commander’s wife. She incessantly yearns for her former life but she can’t achieve it in the current condi...