Moll Flanders (2001, DVD)

The story of 18th Century Moll Flanders (Robin Wright)is told in flashbacks by Hibble (Morgan Freeman) as he escorts an unwilling young girl Flora (Aisling Corcoran) in a carriage to her mother, from whom she was taken 9 years earlier.

You see, Moll Flanders, has really had a hard life. Raised in a convent by strict nuns after her prisoner mother gave birth, Moll has been placed in adoption to a family similar to Cinderella's. Then she was given to a madame Mrs. Allworthy (Stockard Channing) and used as a prostitute. Finally, one of her consorts steals her from the brothel and uses her as his model for painting luscious portraits. It turns out that The Artist (John Lynch)is rich too and falls in love with Moll. But when he takes her to meet his parents, they are repulsed. They marry anyway and have Flora. But then even more ironically, he dies of small pox, and the little girl is kidnapped by the babysitter.

The little girl hears this story en route to her mother. You see, Hibble was also a servant in the brothel. He and Moll became close friends during that period of time.

This movie was beautifully photographed but appears dark on the screen until the end. Maybe that was part of the plot to signify the cruelty of Moll's life.

The actors also speak in a cockney British accent, and it is hard to understand much of the dialogue. Too bad, the DVD makers did not even provide English subtitles. This is the reason for my Average Review of this movie. Otherwise, the plot is pretty good.

You may recognize Robin Wright as Forrest Gump's girlfriend. Stockard Channing was one of the Pink Ladies in "Grease". And Morgan Freeman has made countless wonderful movies including "The Shawshank Redemption" and "Driving Miss Daisy."