Bridges of Madison County
I highly recommend this movie to those who are fortunate enough to be sharing their life with their soulmate – and to those who aren’t, but fervently wish they were.
This 1995 movie was beautifully directed, photographed and dramatized. In addition to producing and directing, Clint Eastwood did a fine job of acting. He also helped create the beautiful and haunting music.
Meryl Streep did an amazing job of portraying an Iowa farm wife who had to make the most difficult choice a woman ever has to make – should she stay with her family or leave with her new love?
Every time I watch this movie – and my wife and I have watched it together 5 or 6 times – I’m able to visualize the choice she was forced to make in 1980 when she realized she was in love with me. At the time, she was married and had 3 children. It must have torn her apart. But unlike Streep’s character in the movie, she decided to spend her life with me.
I’m glad to say that Pat is very close to her grown children and their children. We help them financially when they need assistance and they call her when they hurt or need guidance, ending every phone call with “I love you”.
In the movie, many years after their brief affair, Streep’s character receives a package from the lawyer of Eastwood’s character, who has died. The articles in the box bring back the memories of that affair so long ago. We are reminded of the joy they might have shared if they had been allowed to spend the rest of their lives together; of what might have been, but never was.
I am forever grateful that – instead of 4 brief days – Pat and I have shared more than a quarter of a century together.
And I hope you can watch this movie with someone you love.