How would you feel if your spouse won the Nobel Prize? If you are like most people, you would be ecstatic! And that's exactly how you'd expect your protagonist to react. Unfortunately, life isn't all that simple for her. She doesn't speak too often of her feelings, but she endears herself so much to the viewers that all through the movie, we keep trying to decipher her thoughts.
The film begins with the 'good news' and the elderly husband-wife duo are in celebratory mode. It seems kind of idyllic and you feel happy for this couple. But scene after scene, this perfect tapestry unravels and you start seeing that the husband is dysfunctional on his own. He needs his wife to remind him when to sleep, when & what to eat, when to take the pills, etc. You can clearly see that she's distracted, but you can't help thinking that she must be amazed that this absolute dolt of a man, who can't take care of himself and can't even remember characters from his own novel, is being recognized as one of the greatest minds ever! After all, familiarity has been known to breed contempt. A few more scenes later you begin to suspect that her issues are much more substantial like his philandering ways and the possibility that she might be ghostwriting most of his work. And then it hits you with full force! Now, you aren't happy for this couple anymore.
Sure, a 40 year old marriage has its moments as there's a lot which binds them together. However, I still can't imagine how this marriage could've worked at all, with one person doing all the giving! If I were to guess, the reason that this marriage has lasted is because they deserve each other. He's a leech of a man who has a certain charm, I suppose. He takes all the credit for his wife's work without any scruples, without ever encouraging her to publish anything under her own name and having countless affairs. While she is an enabler; ignoring his infidelities, her children and her own need for an individual identity. She's quite self-sacrificial and feels that she doesn't need anything for herself. Also, she is convinced that her work wouldn't get published in a man's world. Ultimately, her human nature catches up with her and it is extremely difficult for her to see her husband receive the highest accolade a writer can ever win; an award that rightfully belongs to her. One can't help feel pity for her. That said, she did choose the life that she's leading. I understand that the patriarchal society, her husband and she herself are responsible, but I wish that she had a bit more gumption.
One thing I didn't quite understand: Why didn't the son ever suspect that his mother was the actual writer? Such a thing should be fairly obvious, especially to someone who's a writer himself. Even though he's low on self-esteem, he sure doesn't seem low on IQ.
'The Wife' is one of those movies that have a fantastic premise and great actors to go with it. Glenn Close & Jonathan Pryce are truly superb. Glenn Close plays the long-suffering and dedicated wife, while Pryce plays the charming, seemingly dedicated but cheating husband with aplomb. However, the story left me wanting a bit more as it ran out of steam somewhere down the line. Still, it's a very watchable movie.
The film begins with the 'good news' and the elderly husband-wife duo are in celebratory mode. It seems kind of idyllic and you feel happy for this couple. But scene after scene, this perfect tapestry unravels and you start seeing that the husband is dysfunctional on his own. He needs his wife to remind him when to sleep, when & what to eat, when to take the pills, etc. You can clearly see that she's distracted, but you can't help thinking that she must be amazed that this absolute dolt of a man, who can't take care of himself and can't even remember characters from his own novel, is being recognized as one of the greatest minds ever! After all, familiarity has been known to breed contempt. A few more scenes later you begin to suspect that her issues are much more substantial like his philandering ways and the possibility that she might be ghostwriting most of his work. And then it hits you with full force! Now, you aren't happy for this couple anymore.
Sure, a 40 year old marriage has its moments as there's a lot which binds them together. However, I still can't imagine how this marriage could've worked at all, with one person doing all the giving! If I were to guess, the reason that this marriage has lasted is because they deserve each other. He's a leech of a man who has a certain charm, I suppose. He takes all the credit for his wife's work without any scruples, without ever encouraging her to publish anything under her own name and having countless affairs. While she is an enabler; ignoring his infidelities, her children and her own need for an individual identity. She's quite self-sacrificial and feels that she doesn't need anything for herself. Also, she is convinced that her work wouldn't get published in a man's world. Ultimately, her human nature catches up with her and it is extremely difficult for her to see her husband receive the highest accolade a writer can ever win; an award that rightfully belongs to her. One can't help feel pity for her. That said, she did choose the life that she's leading. I understand that the patriarchal society, her husband and she herself are responsible, but I wish that she had a bit more gumption.
One thing I didn't quite understand: Why didn't the son ever suspect that his mother was the actual writer? Such a thing should be fairly obvious, especially to someone who's a writer himself. Even though he's low on self-esteem, he sure doesn't seem low on IQ.
'The Wife' is one of those movies that have a fantastic premise and great actors to go with it. Glenn Close & Jonathan Pryce are truly superb. Glenn Close plays the long-suffering and dedicated wife, while Pryce plays the charming, seemingly dedicated but cheating husband with aplomb. However, the story left me wanting a bit more as it ran out of steam somewhere down the line. Still, it's a very watchable movie.