1990 German-American
production,
directed by
Volker Schlöndorff (
Palmetto). The
screenplay adaptation is by
Harold Pinter (
The French Lieutenant's Woman).
Natasha Richardson (
The Parent Trap) plays Kate (Offred in the book) the
handmaiden. The Commander and his wife are
Robert Duvall and
Faye Dunaway.
Atwood's book is somewhat distilled into "Look at the bad,bad fascist fundamentalists and the destructive effect they have on society." It goes into blatant cliches with the Ruling Elite attends a decadent orgy, meanwhile ordinary citizens are executed for fornication out of wedlock and other crimes against morality. It would have been ten times more chilling if these blaring abuses were toned down with more realism.