The Bridges in Madison County

A Film Analysis of Human sexuality
By Rolland B. Hayag


The movie was emotionally appealing, but I was so intrigue by the character played by Clint Eastwood (Robert), though he was a quiet, simple and freelance photographer, he manage to lure the woman(Meryl Streep) into a trap by taking advantage of her weakness of being lonely and dissatisfied. How rude you can be if you know that the person is lonely and dissatisfied, then you see this opportunity to gain advantage of that woman to satisfied yourself, remember Clint’s Character is a person who is experience with women, because he travels a lot in different places for he is a photographer, and also remember that he said he experience different women when Fenny (Meryl) ask her about it. Yet his conscience and fear work when he realized that it will be troublesome if the town’s people knew about their unrecognized relationship. But still it is a question of his intention, is it really about for the best of that woman or it is for the shame he might have?

Well going back to the issue of taking advantage of the woman’s weakness, as a counselor or a pastor a lot of people or members of the church, or very beautiful and attractive woman may come with the same emotional unbalance, are you the one who will fill up the urge or you are the one who will advise her to talk to her husband about it?
Now let me retell the scene, I don’t believed that the husband of that woman is insensitive as what the other would say, twice he ask her saying “what’s wrong fenny?” and second time he ask her saying “what’s wrong please tell me?”, then the woman answered “I just need a minute, Richard” and then the man gave her space and time, in my experience, not in all times you can remember and recall all the event at all times, after her husband ask her twice and they got home, things are forgotten when the man’s kid called his attention when they got home, then remember she immediately hide and cried in the corner of their kitchen, that was almost at the scene.

In the end scene, Richard say to fenny when he was bedridden “I Love you” and say “sorry” he knew fenny had a dream, and he cannot and have not given it to her, with some reason, there are time in our married life not all the things we dream can be fulfilled due to lack of resources, and not all the reason is because we don’t strive. My conclusion to Richard, “he is a man who is sensitive enough, in many ways but not the way she expected”, the same “a man can be sensitive in many ways, but not the way you expected”.
In the fall of man in the book of Genesis, though Adam pointed out that Eve tempted him of the fruit of lust (Knowledge of Pleasure) and Eve pointed to the snake they both sinned in God’s presence, remember it was not Adam was thrown out from the Garden of Eden but also Eve. If God declares that Adam was the only person sinned God should have given Eve another partner (Man) but instead they both suffer on the consequences their decision.

My conclusion to Fenny, she was weak at first, yet strong and determined, as you have watched in the middle scene, while it was raining and Robert was waiting outside his truck, the woman realized that it can be a trap, that she cannot lose herself till it will be too late, though she feels the certainty of her decision, about going out with Robert, she decided not to, yet it was not clear of why she didn’t , but I can say it is because of her family, that is why. Fearless, No! She was afraid and confuse of what might or would happen.

My conclusion to Robert, well maybe I will not be imprisoned in telling this, well maybe some violent reaction, with the people who love’s Robert, no offense, but I love to say this he was the snake, who come over and said eat this fruit of lust (fruit of pleasure), come with me, come away with me (Roberts word) and satisfy yourself. In the Filipino context if your where invited to my house and welcome to my house then you take advantage of my wife” you will be called snake “Ahas Ka!”. THE END