Watch Rachel, Rachel

Rachel, Rachel is a 1968 drama film directed by Paul Newman, starring his wife Joanne Woodward as the titular character, Rachel. The screenplay was written by Stewart Stern and based on the novel A Jest of God by Margaret Laurence. The film tells the story of Rachel, a lonely and repressed 35-year-old woman living in a small town in Connecticut in the early 1960s.

Rachel lives with her widowed mother (played by Kate Harrington), and works as a schoolteacher. She has never been married, and her only sexual experience was a brief fling in her youth that ended badly. Rachel is a deeply unhappy person, haunted by memories of her traumatic childhood and feeling trapped in her dull, mundane existence. She has a brief moment of happiness when she meets a charming businessman named Nick (James Olson) who comes to her town on business. However, their relationship is short-lived, and Rachel is left to pick up the pieces of her shattered life.

The film explores themes of sexual repression, loneliness, and the search for identity. Rachel is a woman who has never really lived, and who is desperate for some kind of connection. She is drawn to Nick because he represents a kind of freedom and excitement that she has never experienced before. Rachel's relationship with Nick is not without its problems, however. She feels guilty for having feelings for him, knowing that it goes against the values of her conservative community. Rachel is also deeply conflicted about her own desires, and is afraid of being rejected or judged by others.

The film is notable for its portrayal of the 1960s, a time of great change in America. The Civil Rights Movement, the sexual revolution, and the counterculture were all in full swing, and Rachel's conservative community is struggling to keep up. While the film doesn't explore these themes in great detail, they are present in the background, and add an interesting dimension to the story.

Joanne Woodward's performance in Rachel, Rachel is nothing short of brilliant. She captures the character's fear, loneliness, and desperation in a way that is both heartbreaking and realistic. She brings Rachel to life with subtle gestures and expressions, and makes the audience feel deeply for this woman who has been so damaged by life. James Olson is also excellent in his role as Nick, and the chemistry between him and Woodward is palpable.

Paul Newman's direction is understated and elegant, allowing the story and characters to shine. The film's pacing is slow and deliberate, mirroring Rachel's own sense of inertia. The cinematography is beautiful, capturing the lush New England scenery and the small, cramped interiors of Rachel's world.

Overall, Rachel, Rachel is a poignant and powerful film about one woman's journey to find herself in a world that seems determined to keep her down. It's a film that explores complex themes with sensitivity and intelligence, and features one of Joanne Woodward's best performances. It's definitely a must-see for fans of 1960s cinema, and for anyone who appreciates a well-crafted character study.

Rachel, Rachel is a 1968 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 41 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1 and a MetaScore of 74.