(1995) In 1666 Hester Prynne (Demi Moore) arrives in the Massachusetts Bay Colony ahead of her husband (perhaps testing her loyalty to him or her spirit of endurance?), taking a cottage alone (frowned upon by the elders) on the sea cliffs. Her daughter narrates from years later.

Initially friendly and helpful, Brewster, unable to contain his ardor toward her, asks her about the rumor that she was given in payment as a bride by her father for a debt owed to Dr Prynne. She purchases two indentured servants, receiving Mituba, a mute slave girl, in the bargain.

Her first sighting of Arthur Dimmesdale (Gary Oldman) occurs as he's swimming naked in the woods near her abode. When they first meet, with her horse cart stuck in a rut, on the Sabbath as she's hurrying to church, he no more tells her he's the minister than she admits she's married.

If this introduction sounds only vaguely familiar from having read the classic work of American fiction (probably in high school), then get ready for much more than you ever laid eyes on in the text (not just nudity and violence but many events and characters outside of the original author's intentions), for in this very free adaptation of Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel by screenwriter Douglas Day Stewart, director Roland Joffé turns a moral tale of wisdom into a melodramatic yarn with a gushing score by John Barry.

Along with being admired by his congregation for his oratory in sermons from the pulpit, Rev Dimmesdale alone among the white colonists is held in high esteem by the Algonquin chief Metacomet; the clergyman's also translating the Bible into Algonquin. However, Rev Dimmesdale on one of his pastoral visitations to Hester - both share a passion for reading and exchange books - confesses his love for her, his willingness to risk his ministry, his life, and his soul for a time alone with her; but when she reciprocates, he pauses: "We could be hanged for this."

With their hearts struggling, they nevertheless avoid further contact all summer until Arthur brings her news that an English ship has been attacked by Tarrantine Indians, massacring all aboard, including her husband. Telling Arthur that this has been an answer to her prayers, she asks him how long she must wait before publicly taking another spouse; because most of the bodies had not been found, having been washed into the sea, he says the legal period is seven years.

Unable to refrain from carnal knowledge of each other any longer, they make love while superstitious Mituba has a sensual awaken of her own in another room when a cardinal alights within and she takes for the first time a bath in Hester's tub, grasping a candle.

After Hester attends meetings with other women at the residence of her neighbor Harriet Hibbons (Joan Plowright), she's called before the magistrates for questioning, in addition to a heretical utterance (reported by another female) that the laws are men's imaginings of the ideal: "Do you carry a bastard child in your womb?" Admitting as much, headstrong Hester adamantly refuses to name the fornicator; she's confined in a jail for six months without visitors.

After Harriet midwifes Hester's babe into the world and Rev Dimmesdale baptizes Pearl, Hester, still unwilling to show even a small sign of contrition (as Arthur implores her) or share her "pedestal of shame" with her lover, is released from prison (following Arthur's tireless entreaties upon Gov Bellingham) but the prison is put in her (as the governor's wife suggests) by requiring her to wear upon her bosom a scarlet-letter A as a badge of shame.

Throughout this time, the colonists have an abiding fear of their "Praying Indians" (converts to Christianity) rising up in their midst; relations with the native peoples are uneasy.

A welcome newcomer since he's a physician, Roger Chillingworth (Robert Duvall), having been a captive of the Tarrantines for several months, settles among the colonists, keeping his true identity a secret from everyone except Hester (to whom he appears as if resurrected from the dead, evoking from Arthur a declaration: "This is God's punishment"), at first assuring her that he seeks no vengeance upon her, only her lover, until his lust for revenge touches others, precipitating a witch hunt and an Indian attack.

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Copyright © 2009 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
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