The Yellow Wallpaper

Interesting Movie
I was initially exposed to Gilman's haunting short story by the same name in an undergraduate class on American Gothic literature, and have been a fan ever since. However, for those potential viewers that are looking for a faithful recreation of the original written work, you will not find it here... nor should you. I can appreciate a contemporary artist using Gilman's writing as a jumping off point to create an entirely new piece as opposed to remaining confined within the purview of historical intentions. Some of the best film adaptations of novels/short stories have taken such liberties with the foundational texts to great success, "The Shining" would be a good example. Though this film is certainly not a Kubrick, the director has done interesting things with what is essentially an epistolary format.

Gilman's feminist intentions also remain intact which brings me to the character of Dr. Weiland, a subject that seems to be generating a lot of discussion in reviews...

Perfect Film Rendering of a Gothic Horror Story
I wasn't sure what to expect of The Yellow Wallpaper. I had read the Charlotte Perkins Gilman story a dozen times and was curious about the whole idea of an "origins myth." But as the first scenes played themselves out I was completely captivated by this sad and beautiful rendering of a classic story. So much of this was part dream, part real. There are scenes laid out so perfectly that I know they will stay in my mind forever. The camera angles, the smoke and the shadows, the light and the dark, the period clothing, the haunting music. I think the most riveting scene for me personally may be the carriage scene. There is this rush of wheels and dust and air and John and Charlotte are holding onto one another sobbing. This sets the tone for the rest of the movie--this heavy weight of misery that hangs over every moment--which the actors portray to perfection. Aric Cushing's character, who has just lost his child in a devastating fire, behaves in a sort of trance like state...

Lush and beautiful
Loved this film.

An elegantly told story with great performances and stunning visuals.

So what if it's not a strict interpretation of the book? It's called an "adaptation" for a reason; I found the plot departures creatively executed, and the filmmakers deserve kudos for adding to an iconic story.

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