Far from the Madding Crowd (2015)
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A headstrong woman's life becomes entangled with three very different men while she manages her aunt's farm.
The story
In 1870 Britain, Bathsheba Everdene works on her aunt's farm in Dorset. She meets Gabriel Oak, a neighboring farmer who proposes, but she declines due to her desire for independence. After Gabriel loses his flock and leaves to find work, Bathsheba inherits an uncle's farm. She eventually hires Gabriel as a shepherd. While trading grain, she meets the prosperous William Boldwood, who becomes intrigued by her. As Bathsheba navigates her feelings for the different men, she faces various complications involving employment, social standing, and the demands of farm life.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1870 Britain, Bathsheba Everdene works on her aunt's farm in Dorset and meets Gabriel Oak, who proposes but is rejected by the independent Bathsheba. After Gabriel loses his sheep and leaves, Bathsheba inherits a farm and hires Gabriel as a shepherd. She also meets William Boldwood, who proposes marriage; she delays her answer, leading Gabriel to admonish her, resulting in her firing him. However, she later persuades him to return during a sheep crisis. Bathsheba then elopes with the soldier Frank Troy, but he proves to be a belligerent drunk. After Troy's behavior shames her, she regrets their marriage. Troy later sends his pregnant lover, Fanny Robin, to a workhouse; Fanny dies in childbirth, and Troy fakes his drowning. Left with Troy's debts, Bathsheba considers Boldwood's offer to merge their properties. At a party, Boldwood encourages Gabriel to 'Do what is right.' Suddenly, Troy reappears, demanding money and claiming Bathsheba as his wife. Boldwood kills Troy in a 'crime of passion' and is imprisoned. Finally, Gabriel prepares to emigrate to America, but Bathsheba chases him down, begging him to stay and asking him to propose again.
- First release year
- 2015
- Runtime (minutes)
- 119
- Production countries
- United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Thomas Vinterberg
- Writers
- David Nicholls · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Carey Mulligan · Bathsheba Everdene; Matthias Schoenaerts · Gabriel Oak; Michael Sheen · William Boldwood; Tom Sturridge · Sergeant Frank Troy; Juno Temple · Fanny Robin
- Genres
- romantic drama; historical romance
- Themes
- Independence; Social Class; Love and Loyalty
- Tone and mood
- Romantic; Dramatic
- Premise and plot tags
- Historical Romance; Period Drama; Farm Life
- Source material / true-story basis
- Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy (1874)
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics, with praise for the direction and the cast, particularly Carey Mulligan's performance.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 84% · review count: 193; Metacritic · score: 71 · scale: 100 · review count: 40
- Production trivia
- Mapperton House doubled as Bathsheba Everdene's farm.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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