South African Psychiatry - February 2019

MOVIE REVIEW
THE WIFE
broadcast the world over. Imagine a sumptuous
and very regal award ceremony, followed by an
even more sumptuous gala dinner… all ‘white tie
and ball gown’.
IF THE VIVID IMAGERY GETS YOUR TOES
CURLING AND YOU THINK THAT THIS
MIGHT BE YOUR THING, START WRITING,
IT IS NEVER TOO LATE!
Achieving this realm of excellence often comes
with problems of its own. The Wife, based on the
novel by the same name written by American writer
Meg Wolitzer deals with the exact same scenario
as imagined above, this time round as it applies
to the lives of Joe and Joan Castleman (played
by Jonathan Pryce and Glenn Close respectively).
Joe, a celebrated and respected author in the
graying years of his life, receives ‘the call’ early one
morning from the Nobel Prize committee informing
him that he will be awarded the Literature prize for
1992. Joe is beyond ecstatic, and it is clear that his
world rather revolves around himself and his writing,
and that his wife Joan plays her part as the silent,
supportive and caring wife of a husband with a
very important career. Though adamantly by her
husband’s side, hers is a life outside the limelight,
and she shies away from any form of recognition
or praise for her role in Joe’s success. Not only has
Joan had to give up her own dreams, but she also
has had to turn a blind eye to Joe’s numerous
infidelities over the course of their 40-somewhatyear
marriage.
FROM THE START OF THE FILM ONE GETS
A VERY STRONG SENSE THAT JOAN’S
LIFE HAS BEEN MORE THAN SACRIFICED
IN HELPING BUILD THE EXTRAORDINARY
CAREER OF HER HUSBAND.
It is as the couple is making their way to Stockholm
for the award ceremony that things start to unravel
in their relationship. Joe and Joan share a secret,
and the secret is beginning to exact a heavy toll
on Joan’s conscience. When confronted by Joe’s
narcissistic and adulterous behaviour even on the
eve of a major achievement in a foreign country,
Joan comes to the realization that she can no
longer proceed with her life as she had known it
up to that point.
On the trip to Stockholm the Castlemans are
escorted by their son David (played by Max Irons),
a budding writer craving his father’s recognition
and positive feedback. It goes without saying
that Joe and David share very difficult fatherson
relationship dynamics, especially in light of
Joe’s self-centeredness and brash manner. No
household is big enough for the egos of more than
one successful writer, right? Add to this that on the
very same trip to Sweden is a wannabe biographer
of Joe’s out to get any piece of juicy gossip that he
can. The scene is truly set for a bumpy ride (no pun
intended!).
It is in Stockholm too that Joe and David’s
relationship comes to a head, and things turn out
quite unexpectedly for the Castleman family. A
lot more happens in the film which I will leave for
you to discover as I might just be giving away too
much here.
ALTHOUGH THE WIFE IS NOT THE BEST
FILM THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN, IT COMES
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED AS IT IS
SUCCESSFUL IN DELIVERING STELLAR
PERFORMANCES BY TWO VERY
STRONG ACTORS (PRYCE AND CLOSE)
ON A DIFFICULT SUBJECT MATTER.
The roles of husband and wife caught up in such
a precarious relationship demands actors of their
caliber. Get your hands on a copy of this late 2017
release, you will not be disappointed. Until next
time, enjoy the viewing!
Franco Visser is a psychologist and former lecturer in
Neuro- & Forensic Psychology at UNISA, Pretoria, South
Africa and currently in private practice Correspondence:
francopierrevisser@gmail.com
SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 18 2019 * 77