The 1993 production of *Ethan Frome*, a collaboration between British and American filmmakers, brings Edith Wharton's 1911 novel to the screen. The story unfolds in late 19th-century Massachusetts, exploring themes of thwarted love amidst harsh winters, poverty, and small-town gossip—elements that Wharton observed during her infrequent visits to New England despite being a wealthy New York socialite. Ethan Frome, portrayed by Liam Neeson, is a farmer struggling for a better life in the fictional town of Starkfield. His aspirations are crushed early on by his parents' deaths and then compounded by his marriage to Zeena Frome (Joan Allen), who suffers from poor health. The arrival of Zeena’s beautiful cousin, Mattie Silver (Patricia Arquette), sparks feelings in Ethan, but ultimately, the difficult realities of life in Starkfield lead to a tragic outcome for the pair. The plot involving star-crossed lovers is familiar territory, yet *Ethan Frome* distinguishes itself through its portrayal of a Massachusetts village during that era, complete with regional dialects and depictions of rural farmhouses. This adaptation manages to capture those aspects effectively. It also improves upon Wharton’s original by revising what the author presented as an absurd conclusion—Ethan and Mattie attempting to escape their circumstances by sledding into a tree in a seemingly foolish act of suicide—making it more plausible. However, the film isn't without its shortcomings. One significant alteration involves changing the novel’s narrative framework. In Wharton’s book, an engineer’s curiosity about Frome’s withdrawn nature prompts the flashback sequence. The movie instead uses a newly arrived preacher, fresh from seminary, who objects to Frome being ostracized by the community. This shift replaces Wharton's depiction of a man isolating himself after experiencing multiple losses with a new element: a condemnation of the villagers for lacking compassion. As a result, the film’s ending lacks the impact it has in the novel. Another change is that Ethan and Mattie have a sexual relationship, whereas Wharton’s characters appear unable to even consider such intimacy given their challenging situation. Furthermore, while Liam Neeson delivers a strong performance, his age for the role feels off; he seems about ten years too old. I originally watched this film on PBS almost twenty years ago, and it serves adequately as background entertainment when watching television. Nevertheless, it’s a flawed adaptation in several respects, and I can't wholeheartedly recommend it.

Source on TMDB