When one has not really lived, life is actually a sort of slow death.
That is a pretty morbid thought, but it is the painful conclusion that Rachel (Joanne Woodward) comes to in the beginning of this film; her life isn't really a life, but a slow, lonely march to the grave. Accompanying Rachel on her "march" is a domineering mother, a best friend with deeper desires, and a man who, while fulfilling her (and his)physical urges, does nothing to edify her in the emotional sense. To top it all off, she desperately wants a child and is a schoolteacher, devoting much of her time to nurturing other peoples' children. To put it mildly, the outlook for Rachel seems rather bleak at the onset.
Yet in the course of the film, Woodward is able to, very simply and very delicately, convey a great awakening within Rachel. Rachel becomes aware of the fact that there is a great deal in life for her to see and experience. In the end, for the first time in her life, she makes a decision for herself, and sets about to potentially change the course of her life -- to make that journey toward the grave a little more meaningful.
Joanne Woodward is perfect in this film; there are no missteps in her work, and she is able to convey so much without ever overdoing it. This film is driven totally by the heart and the emotion of the characters, and Woodward conveys the internal side of a character better than almost anyone else. She truthfully taps into the basic human need to love and be loved, which is certainly no small task.
As viewers, we are left to wonder what is to come for Rachel, which definitely lends a deeper element of reality to the film. We are not sure if life will play out happily for Rachel, but we are not wholly convinced that she will be miserable, either; her future is uncertain. Then again, isn't the same true for all of us, to one degree or another?
That is a pretty morbid thought, but it is the painful conclusion that Rachel (Joanne Woodward) comes to in the beginning of this film; her life isn't really a life, but a slow, lonely march to the grave. Accompanying Rachel on her "march" is a domineering mother, a best friend with deeper desires, and a man who, while fulfilling her (and his)physical urges, does nothing to edify her in the emotional sense. To top it all off, she desperately wants a child and is a schoolteacher, devoting much of her time to nurturing other peoples' children. To put it mildly, the outlook for Rachel seems rather bleak at the onset.
Yet in the course of the film, Woodward is able to, very simply and very delicately, convey a great awakening within Rachel. Rachel becomes aware of the fact that there is a great deal in life for her to see and experience. In the end, for the first time in her life, she makes a decision for herself, and sets about to potentially change the course of her life -- to make that journey toward the grave a little more meaningful.
Joanne Woodward is perfect in this film; there are no missteps in her work, and she is able to convey so much without ever overdoing it. This film is driven totally by the heart and the emotion of the characters, and Woodward conveys the internal side of a character better than almost anyone else. She truthfully taps into the basic human need to love and be loved, which is certainly no small task.
As viewers, we are left to wonder what is to come for Rachel, which definitely lends a deeper element of reality to the film. We are not sure if life will play out happily for Rachel, but we are not wholly convinced that she will be miserable, either; her future is uncertain. Then again, isn't the same true for all of us, to one degree or another?