Directed by Jane Campion, it stars Nicole Kidman, Barbara Hershey, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker, Martin Donovan, Shelley Duvall, Richard E. Grant, Shelley Winters, Viggo Mortensen, Valentina Cervi, Christian Bale and John Gielgud.

It tells a story of Isabel Archer (Kidman), a fille of independence whose innocence at last understands her manipulated by her 'friend' Madame Merle (Hershey) & a devious Gilbert Osmond (Malkovich).

A film was freed around 1996 & won several awards for costuming, screenplay, & for Hershey and Donovan.