In Victorian England, researcher Charles Smithson (Jeremy Irons) loses a battle with his better judgment and embarks on an affair with scandalized ex-governess Sarah Woodruff (Meryl Streep). This challenging take on the John Fowles novel from director Karel Reisz and screenwriter Harold Pinter offers a parallel storyline for the leads, as actors cast in an adaptation of the book, and caught in their own ill-fated liaison. David Warner, Leo McKern, Richard Griffiths also star. 123 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; featurette; interviews; 1981 "The South Bank Show" episode; theatrical trailer.