The Pumpkin Eater (1964)

In the bustling heart of London, the lives of screenwriter Jake Armitage (Peter Finch) and his wife Jo (Anne Bancroft) unfold, a complex tapestry woven from Jo's eight children, products of her three marriages. Their household is brimming with a variety of personalities, only the youngest of whom shares a biological connection with Jake. Yet, Jake embraces them all as his own, creating an unconventional family unit in their upper middle-class home, a stark contrast to Jo's previous rural life with her second husband, Giles (Richard Johnson). Their marriage is a labyrinth of emotions, Jo having left Giles after succumbing to the irresistible allure of Jake, Giles' friend. Yet, the allure has dulled over time, replaced with the harsh reality of marital discord. Jo grapples with the gnawing suspicion of Jake's chronic infidelity, confronting him only when damning evidence rears its head. Meanwhile, her psychiatrist suggests a peculiar pattern: Jo's use of childbirth as an excuse for sex, a physical act he believes she deems distasteful. This volatile combination pushes Jo to the precipice of a fragile mental state. As the couple plans to relocate back to the serene English countryside, within a stone's throw of Jo's old barn, they are each silently wrestling with the future of their frayed union. Will their marriage endure the onslaught of these strains? If so, what form will it take? Years pass and with them come more children and the upswing of Jake's career. However, Jo's mental health declines, culminating in a public breakdown in Harrods. A stint in psychiatric care and the promise of a new pastoral home offer a glimmer of hope, but the prospect of another pregnancy leads to a major disagreement with Jake. In an attempt to restore harmony, Jo consents to an abortion and sterilization, only to uncover unsettling truths about her husband. Faced with these revelations, Jo demands answers from Jake. The questions "Why did you marry me?" and "What should we do?" hang heavily in the air, the answers as elusive as the stability they seek. The Pumpkin Eater is a riveting exploration of a marriage under strain, a study of love and loathing intertwined, and the personal sacrifices made in the relentless pursuit of happiness.

The Pumpkin Eater is a drama movie featuring Anne Bancroft and directed by Jack Clayton.

It is possible to buy The Pumpkin Eater on Amazon Video, Apple TV, DIRECTV, Google Play Movies, Vudu and YouTube.