The Handmaid's Tale Trailer is Here: A dystopian reminder we all need
Margaret Atwood's 1985 dystopian novel , The Handmaid's Tale, is coming to Hulu and boy is it still crazy relevant. Set in future New England, a theocracy has overthrown the government. In this hellscape, due to very low reproduction rates, Handmaids are forced to have children for rich couples who can't. The story follows the main character, Offred (Handmaid's names consist of the word "of" followed by the name of the Handmaid's Commander). PUKE.
Offred's freedom, like all women in this story, is completely taken from her. She is forced to have sex for breeding purposes with her Commander while his wife watches and holds Offred's hands. DOUBLE PUKE.
The main point of the theocracy in The Haidmaid's Tale is to control reproduction. To do this, all rights are taken from women and they are treated as subhuman.
Sound depressing? Sure. Unlikely? Maybe not so much. Hulu brings a story to our televisions that needs to be told. We need to pay attention to what's happening out there. #menarefeministstoo.
The Handmaid's Tale premieres on April 26, 2017 and stars some pretty amazing, strong women. Elisabeth Moss, best known for her part as Peggy Olsen in Mad Men, portrays Offred; Samira Wiley, Poussey from Orange is the New Black plays Moira; and everybody's favorite Gilmore Girl, Alexis Bledel is Ofglen.
Also...Ray Fiennes' brother plays Commander Fred Waterford.