Jane Fonda, who attempted to play Nora Helmer in the 1973 film A Doll's House, directed by Joseph Losey, was a complete and total joke. She took a critically acclaimed play written by Henrik Ibsen in 1879, and made it into a film that did absolutely no justification to the play. It was completely obvious from the onset of the movie that it was not at all about the plight of poor little Nora Helmer. No, it was about strong and powerful Jane Fonda. She was obviously attempting to make a statement about women's liberation, but her acting was so bad that even that became overshadowed. Jane must have thought that this would be the perfect role and opportunity to conquer the minds of those oppressing women and show them the error of their ways. Well, her effort was duely noted, but it was also duely sneered at.

     If Jane was trying to make a statement that women were strong and could stand on their own, she went about it all wrong. The character of Nora was deceitful and flighty. If a woman is to overcome oppression and ill-doings, then she certainly cannot be portrayed as this type of woman. These characteristics do not show strength in a man or a woman. They show a lack of strength, if anything. Jane Fonda obviously did not realize that a woman portrayed as deceitful is not a woman of strength and power and would probably have fewer liberties than would an honest, upstanding one.

     This film was poorly cast as far as Nora's character is concerned. Jane did not play a good Nora because she wanted so much for her views and beliefs to shine through, not Nora's character. Needless to say, I did not care for the film, and I thought the portrayal of Jane as Nora was a joke.