Perhaps, one of the best love stories is about letting go and letting destiny decide the fate. Perhaps, everyone has experienced such sacrifice in a little or grand way. Perhaps, each of us can relate to any tale of loss. And perhaps, this theme made The Bridges of Madison County one of the best-selling books and one of the most successful movies in the 90s.
The Bridges of
Madison County was written by American author Robert James Waller and
published in 1992. Three years later, the book was adapted into a major motion
picture by Amblin Entertainment, Malpaso Productions and Warner Bros.
Entertainment. The film is directed by Clint Eastwood who also played the main
protagonist along with Meryl Streep.
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Plot. In the
present time, the children of deceased Francesca Johnson arrive in their Iowa
farmhouse to settle their mother’s estate. She left them with a will and a safe
deposit box. Siblings Michael and Carolyn are perplexed to be instructed that
her body be cremated and the ashes strewn on the nearby Roseman Covered Bridge,
which is not in accordance with the burial arrangement they had known. They are
even more surprised to discover the contents of the deposit box. Inside are set
of photos of her mother and a letter. Michael refuses to comply but is later convinced
by Carolyn to calm down and that they read together the documents she had
discovered – some letters addressed to their mother from a man named Robert
Kincaid. This leads them to confront an olden chest where they found a letter
from their mother, series of diaries, and souvenirs from Francesca’s other
life.
It was a hot day in 1965 when Robert Kincaid, a photographer
for National Geographic, came to Madison County, Iowa to shoot a photographic
essay for the infamous covered bridges in the sleepy town. Uncertain of the way
around the locality, he pulled off in front of the house of Italian war bride
Francesca Johnson to ask for directions. As her husband and children were away
at the Illinois State Fair, Francesca offered to escort him around. This simple
meeting eventually led to a four-day affair. That short affair had greatly
impacted Francesca’s and Robert’s lives that they almost ran away together.
However, she intervened at the last minute in consideration of the grave effect
on her husband and children. Robert conceded as he also struggled to find the
essence of his calling as a photograph.
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Their discovery touched the Johnson siblings as each is
facing marital issues. In honor of their mother’s love and self-sacrifice, they
complied with her request.
Read the full article "The Bridges of Madison County: Book and Movie Review."
