This Canadian mini series( 6 episodes) on Netflix is based on Margaret Atwood’s novel of the same name. This period drama is a wonderfully convoluted story of a young girl , an Irish immigrant who is accused of murdering her employer and his housekeeper.
Cast -Sarah Gadon , Edward Holcroft , Rebecca Liddiard, Zachary Livi
Director – Mary Harron
Plot
The story based around mid-eighteenth century shows Grace Marks serving a prison sentence for double murder.Her testimony is in absolute contrast to her co-conspirator who was hanged and also the other prime witness.
Dr.Jordan, a psychologist, is hired to assess her mental condition and also the fact if she’s really guilty or not.She has spent some time in mental asylum , is now apparently sane but supposedly doesn’t have any memories of the murder. When prodded by the Dr.Jordan , she narrates her life story in entirety which she remembers in minutest detail except for the fateful day.
It’s is up to the doctor and us , the viewers, to pick up traces and hints out of her past ,to study her behaviour , thoughts and the story she narrates ,to unravel the mystery and the truth behind the murders.
She’s a person with difficult background and upbringing. She could be suffering from trauma Or a Multiple personality disorder Or had she been possessed by a soul close to her in past Or is she plain shrewd murderer ?
The atmospherics and period era depiction is great. There’s an air of mystery and enigma in Grace that’s intriguing. The psychological puzzles her story keeps throwing are delicious to interpret.
The story leads to a climax that is happy but fantastically open to interpretations.
This psychological twister cum period drama cum murder mystery is wonderfully twisted and definitely recommended. The fact that it’s based on real life case makes it all the more intriguing.