Meet one of the most beautiful love stories there is, The Bridges of Madison, book that will hook you from the first moment.
A love story
Perhaps the title sounds familiar to you from the film from the 90s; Francesca played by the acclaimed and famous actress, Meryl Streep; and by the famous actor and director, Clint Eastwood, playing Robert Kincaid.
The movie of The bridges of madison, follows the same plot book, being quite faithful. The adaptation to the big screen was very well received by the public, being a classic. The literature of this beautiful love story came from the author Robert James Waller.
If you are a fan of this type of love stories, we recommend a classic such as: Book The Spring
Next, we will comment on the plot of this magical story, where we are shown that love does not submit to time; one person can make you feel more love in such a short time, than another person in a lifetime. If you have already seen the film, we recommend that you read the book; if you have already read the book, then go see the movie; And if you haven't done either of these things... What are you waiting for? You will not regret.
The Bridges of Madison Synopsis
The story tells us about the furtive relationship that Robert Kincaid had, who is a photographer of National Geographic and Francesca Johnson, a woman of Italian descent, a housewife. Both characters meet by chance of fate and will come to live, which would mark their lives forever, the most beautiful encounter they have ever had, loving each other like never before in their lives.
This story is told to us through diaries left by Francesca herself, which are read by her children. These diaries remained secret throughout the woman's life and did not come to light until after her death, thus following the will of her will.
beginnings of history
In Madison County, Iowa; where Francesca's children find her secret diary, revealed in Francesca's will. She requests that after her death, her body be cremated and her ashes scattered around the Roseman Bridge. Her children, seeing such a strange request from her deceased mother, refuse in the first instance in the face of such atrocity; however, they continued reading her mother's letter, in which she explained the reasons why she wanted that wish to be fulfilled. It is here, where we jump back in time and place ourselves from the perspective of Francesca, who tells us her story.
We are in the year 1965, the time in which the events take place. Francesca begins to tell us a little about her daily life at her house, in order to empathize with her and introduce us to the intimacy of her life. At one point in her life, her husband Richard Johnson, a US military officer; Together with her two children Caroline and Michael, they go on a trip, leaving Francesca alone at home for a few days.
At this time, Robert appears, who introduces himself as a photographer and reporter from National Geographic, to make a report on some bridges near that town for the company; she arrives at Francesca's house, to seek information about these bridges. From this moment in which both met, the connection between the two characters was instantaneous and the first step, for what would be the relationship of his life.
days of love
During the development of the story we see how in a short time, the bond between Francesca and Robert, these two characters deeply in love with each other, is becoming much stronger and how both are getting closer to each other, brushing between merely romantic desire and carnal desire.
Francesca sees in her lover everything that she had wanted and wished to experience in her life; Although it is not that she is not happy and does not feel satisfied with her marriage and her children, the fact that she will be presented with such an opportunity in her life, makes her find herself on a tightrope. We see how history allows us to glimpse the dichotomy that women live between what is morally correct and living what she has always wanted in her life, at the cost of being unfaithful.
It's like this, like this book, this movie: The Bridges of Madison; It reflects our daily life as human beings. We present throughout our lives, internal struggles about following the right thing or fulfilling our dreams. Infidelity, a problem that has always been viewed with disfavour, for Francesa's time, in a more conservative society, was to put her physical integrity at risk, if this secret was made public.
Evolution
The relationship between Francesca and Robert grows, their love, their ties, the connection they both have; the woman for her part, she feels that struggle within herself, knowing that what she does is wrong. As the days go by, both in an argument realize that they cannot continue with this, so Francesca will have to make a very hard decision. She is extremely frustrated by the situation, since she wants to live what she really wants at the cost of losing her family; This will lead her to make a difficult decision for herself.
Both characters, realizing that it is not the right thing to do and "being overwhelmed by their feelings", decide that each one follows their own path. Soon after, Francesca's husband and children return home. At that moment, the daily life to which the woman had been accustomed returns to her life; meanwhile, she remembers the moments she spent with Robert and reflects on everything that happened. She realizes everything she had in a few days and what she had lost.
Separate paths
In the last part of this story, we see how Robert appears again, after having disappeared for several days. It is here that the last bars of both the book The Bridges of Madisonlike from the movie.
Francesca is in her husband's car, while Robert is on the other side of the street, they both see each other and give each other a very tender and succinct smile; The photographer, seeing that Francesca does not change her mind, gets into his car to continue on his way. Throughout this last part, we see Francesca's last internal duel, to do the right thing or follow what she most wants.
They are the most intense scenes of this whole story. Both cars, both Francesca's husband and Robert's; they park one behind the other thanks to a traffic light, at that moment Robert places a pendant on the rear-view mirror of his car, a symbol of high value and meaning for the protagonists, and a hint for Francesa. Her destiny has given her the last chance to decide what to do and represents, in turn, an analogy to our lives: do the right thing or go for what we love most. Finally, Robert starts his car just like Francesca's husband does, both vehicles take different and opposite paths; the woman's husband rolls up the window of his car.
Returning us to the present, once we had read the last words that Francesca had written in her diary all this great, but sad story; her children are dismayed by such a statement and her mother, although already deceased, wanders her spirit with the hope that her children can understand the reason why she wants her mother to be cremated .
a little interpretation
In this last scene of The Bridges of Madison, both in the book, like in the movie; It is loaded with great symbolism and analogies of our lives and how, many times, despite having the opportunity that we so much desire in front of us, we let it go by following the right path. How life can put us such a difficult test and it will be us, our free will, those of us who will decide what to do; accepting the consequences that this may entail.
Should we follow our heart or should we follow our reason? A dilemma that presents itself to all of us, at any time in our lives. What assures us that we make the right decision? What tells us which is the best choice?
This dichotomy, this internal struggle; it is present throughout the entire story, but it is in the final scene, where it becomes much more evident. Francesa represents us, her family, she represents what is considered "morally correct"; while Robert represents our deepest wishes and desires.
Many times, following what is morally correct may not be our best choice; Like many times, following what we most desire can't be either. We have to make our decision and wait for time to tell us if we did the right thing or not.
Quotes from the book The Bridges of Madison County
"I think the places I've been and the photos I've taken in my life have been leading me to you." (francesca)
"Love does not obey our hopes, its mystery is pure and absolute." (francesca)
«Francesca: What makes it different, Robert?
Bob: You see, when I think about why I take pictures, the only reason that comes to mind is that I feel like I've been traveling here. And now, now it seems to me that everything I've ever done in my life has been leading me to you. And if I have to think that tomorrow I will leave without you… I…”
“Do what you have to do to live your life. There are many things to be happy." (francesca)
"I do not want to need you because I can not have you." (robert)
"I'll only say it once. He had never said it before, but this kind of certainty only comes once in a lifetime." (robert)
«And you catch my sadness again to hide it in your pocket, to keep it away from me… Again you have planted the garden of my nightmares with new dreams, with other hopes… And I am still full of love for everything that belongs to you, full of jealousy for everything that touches you and takes away a piece of you... And you're still here, giving me life with every breath, begging for my kisses without knowing that you don't even have to ask for them... Because they're yours, because I'm not mine anymore but yours." (francesca)
“Francesca, do you think that what happened to us happens to anyone, what we feel for each other? Now it can be said that we are not two, but one person.” (Robert)
"Things change. They always do, it's one of nature's things. Most people are afraid of change, but if you see it as something you can always count on, it becomes comforting.”
The Bridges of Madison, book vs movie
In general, there will be no notable differences between the book and the movie. The film adaptation is quite faithful to Waller's writing and even the director of the film, who is Clint Eastwood himself, takes the liberty of expanding some scenes, which in the book were a bit vague. Plasma with great wonder and genius everything that the book wants to convey. The film achieves in a perfect way, convey to all its viewers, all this roller coaster of emotions; we manage to connect with each of the main characters and in this case, we can feel identified, understand them; It is one of the many wonders that this film has to offer us and for it it deserves its place as one of the great classics of the film industry. We hope you have been motivated to see this fantastic story, both the book and the movie.