topiFrom Wikipedia: Trailer: I believe that this show (and the original novel) are a little too much topical now... The Handmaid’s Tale is a handbook for surviving oppressive systems
This was originally inspired by the rise of the religious right in the eighties. There are a number of essays and notes that link the characters in the book directly or indirectly to real world figures of the time. But I agree it is topical again, particularly the male control over women's reproductive systems. I would love to see what Atwood would do with Trump's America.
We had seen this on film earlier: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Handmaid's_Tale I also remember the original Lathe of Heaven
I've been meaning to read the book for awhile now. I'm definitely checking out the show, both for its painfully timely matter and its stellar cast.
The wife and I are both looking forward to this one. The Democrats should kick a few million dollars towards the networks and content providers to get stuff like this and Downfall, on OTA in the US for the general public to see.
Yeah, it is a shame that something that could be really important and timely has been stuck on Hulu. How graphic is the book? Is it the kind of thing that could be on a network or at least a cable channel like USA or Syfy?
Considering the majority of network watchers are older, the material should be able to be presented as is.
The book isn't graphic at all in terms of how the sex scenes (ie. the monthly Ceremony Offred has to go through with the Commander and his wife). From what the actors in the movie said, it was awkward to film, but with Natasha Richardson, Faye Dunaway, and Robert Duvall as the main cast, there were no problems with everyone staying professional. The parts I found a bit disturbing about the book were the descriptions of various executions, but then I've got a vivid imagination when it comes to that sort of thing (not necessarily a good thing). If I were a parent I wouldn't want any of my kids watching the movie until they were about 16 or so (depending on whether or not their high school had the book on the English curriculum; some do these days). In any case I wouldn't consider it suitable for age 13 or younger. But again, that's just my opinion. And of course since I'm in Canada I won't get to watch the TV series.
This article's description of the story has mixed up elements of the book and the movie. There are some crucial events that happen differently in each one. The book has an ambiguous ending; Offred has no idea if she's going to be rescued or executed. Another note of difference is that in the book we never learn Offred's original name. She tells Nick what it is, but doesn't share that information with the reader.
Why should they do that? The people have to do their part by voting in Democratic Party (and ONLY Democratic Party-no fraking third party anybody) candidates into power in the 2018 mid-term election to put a brake on Trump and his cabal. Getting The Man In The High Castle and The Handmaid's Tale on OTA TV won't work, not the least of which would be because the major TV networks probably can't just readjust their schedules to put the two shows on the air (Downfall can be aired as a Movie Of The Week, or maybe as a Hallmark Hall Of Fame presentation.) With regards to The Handmaid's Tale, now those sci-fi authors that said that nothing like this could happen can eat their words.
The A.V. Club also posted a raving review today. Every time I see this shot, for a split second, I think it's Rachel McAdams even though I know it's actually Elisabeth Moss.