The House of Bernarda Alba

Author(s): Corey (SD)
The House of Bernarda Alba

Directed By: Mike Nichols
Written By: Tony Kushner
Based on the Play By: Federico Garcia Lorca
Produced By: Mike Nichols, John Calley, and Sarah Polley
Music By: James Newton Howard

Cast:

Bernarda Alba: Meryl Streep
Angustias: Cate Blanchett
Adela: Emily Blunt
La Poncia: Diane Venora
Magdalena: Amy Ryan
Amelia: Leah Curney
Martirio: Sarah Polley
Maria Josefa: Angela Lansbury

Synopsis:

After the death of her second husband, Bernarda Alba imposes a period of mourning on her household that is to last eight years. Such a period of mourning has been traditional in her family. Along with Bernarda, though, her five daughters are forced to mourn along with her.

Ranging from ages 20 to 39, the daughters have lived a life which has been controlled by their mother to an excessive degree. The period of mourning, though, isolates the daughters further and tension begins to mount within the household.

Angustias, the eldest daughter, has inherited a large sum of money from the death of her farther. The wealth, in turn, attracts the young and attractive Pepe Romano. The two are to be married.

Within the walls of the hot and confined house, though, it is revealed that Adela, the youngest of the daughters, has been conducting an illicit affair with Romano. Adela’s relationship with her mother and sisters becomes more strained as she struggles to keep everything a secret. Soon, Adela refuses to follow any of the instructions from her mother.

Adela’s secret, though, is held only by Poncia, the maid. Still, as the confines of the house begin to wear on the sisters, everything unravels and Adela’s biggest secret of all threatens to tear the family apart.

What the Press Would Say:

Director Mike Nichols once again proves that his best projects come while working with adapted material, especially that of the stage. His first work, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? was, of course, a stage adaptation and The House of Bernarda Alba is his best since then. He handles the material masterfully.

The cast has probably the biggest responsibility of making the movie work, and they do it. Interestingly, all of the actresses have had some stage presence at one time or another, and it shows. All deliver interesting, well fleshed passionate performances, but it’s the iconic pairing of Streep and Blanchett that makes much of the film work. Diane Venora is great though, and should receive the Oscar buzz the eluded her for her screen work in Heat.

The material is hard to handle, but Tony Kushner does wonders. The play itself explores themes of repression, passion, and conformity, and Kushner’s adaptation does a great job covering all points. Lorca’s play was originally a foreshadowing of Fransico Franco’s fascist regime, but still the material works good in the hands of such a master.

The film, itself, is not strictly a period piece, and not merely an adaptation. Rather, it stands as a stunning work for an immensely talented group of individuals. As a film, it helps show what repression does to individuals and helps to show that secrets and deception will, before long, begin to tear at all of us.

Awards Consideration:

Best Picture
Best Director: Mike Nichols
Best Actress: Meryl Streep
Best Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett
Best Supporting Actress: Diane Venora
Best Adapted Screenplay: Tony Kushner