The Bridges Of Madison County (1995)
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A woman's secret past is revealed to her children through a collection of letters and photographs.
The story
In the present, adult siblings Michael and Carolyn Johnson arrive at the Iowa farmhouse of their recently deceased mother, Francesca, to settle her estate. They are shocked to learn she requested her ashes be scattered from a local covered bridge rather than being buried with her husband. While searching her belongings, they discover a collection of photographs and letters from a man named Robert Kincaid. As they begin to read her notebooks, the story flashes back to 1965, revealing the truth of her life and the impact of a brief but intense encounter with a traveling photographer who visited their farm.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In the present, siblings Michael and Carolyn Johnson find a collection of letters and photos in their late mother's belongings, leading them to discover her secret history. The narrative shifts to 1965, where Francesca, a war bride on an Iowa farm, experiences a four-day intense affair with Robert Kincaid, a National Geographic photographer. While they fall deeply in love, Francesca's responsibilities to her family prevent her from leaving her life. The film explores the lasting impact of their connection on both individuals. Years later, after her husband's death, Francesca learns Robert has also passed away. In the present, the siblings, moved by their mother's story, find new direction in their lives and fulfill her final wish to scatter her ashes from the Roseman Bridge.
- First release year
- 1995
- Runtime (minutes)
- 134
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Clint Eastwood
- Writers
- Richard LaGravenese · screenplay; Clint Eastwood · screenplay (uncredited); Steven Spielberg · screenplay (uncredited)
- Cast and characters
- Clint Eastwood · Robert Kincaid; Meryl Streep · Francesca Johnson; Annie Corley · Carolyn Johnson; Sarah Kathryn Schmitt · young Carolyn; Victor Slezak · Michael Johnson; Christopher Kroon · young Michael; Jim Haynie · Richard Johnson; Phyllis Lyons · Betty
- Genres
- romantic drama
- Themes
- consequences of passion; impact of memory
- Tone and mood
- sentimental; elegaic
- Premise and plot tags
- romance; drama; historical
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1992 bestselling novel of the same name by Robert James Waller
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews upon release, with high praise directed towards Streep's performance.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 90% · scale: percentage · review count: 60; Metacritic · score: 69 · scale: 100 · review count: 23
- Awards and nominations
- Best Actress · Academy Awards · 68th · nomination
- Production trivia
- The novel sold 9.5 million copies worldwide.; The film was originally intended to have an R rating but was reduced to PG-13.; The film was selected as the best film of the 1990s by Cahiers du Cinéma.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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