Silent Bridges raises questions about the basic building blocks of being human
The Bridges of Madison County is a much-loved work that became an exceptionally big phenomenon at the time. Dramaturg Ari-Pekka Lahti has wanted to be faithful to the novel and make the play adaptation very recognizable.
The novel began when Robert James Waller (1939–2017) was photographing the covered bridges of Madison County in Iowa in the early 90s. On the way back, he got an idea for a novel that he had to write quickly. Just two weeks later, the manuscript was ready to be sent to the publisher.
Published in 1992, the novel tells the story of Francesca Johnson, a farmhouse mistress, whose life takes a surprising turn when Robert Kincaid, a lonely photographer living the life of a vagabond, stops by to ask for directions to Roseman’s covered bridge. Francesca and Robert experience a four-day passionate romance that they will never forget.
Waller’s debut novel was published by a small publishing house without any expectations, but it quickly found its readers. The novel topped the New York Times bestseller list and stayed on the list for more than three years. The book’s popularity was increased by the 1995 film starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep. The book has sold over 60 million copies and has been translated into more than 40 languages.
A magical love story
“There is an element in the book that appealed strongly to people and lifted the book out from the mass of books,” Lahti says. Lahti thought a lot about this element – the core of the story – even before starting the adaptation. “The aim of the adaptation is to convey this as deeply as possible,” Lahti says.
The adaptation of a play begins with a careful reading of the book. Lahti has a habit of unpacking the book in chronological order on pieces of paper and placing them chronologically on the wall. It helps to perceive what material is available, what the format of the performance is and how the story can best be staged.
“I may move pieces of paper around and test different ideas on different forms and think about what serves the stage best and how I can bring out the core of the story,” Lahti says. There are not many pages in Silent Bridges , but thinking about the order of events and paying attention to details requires precision from the dramaturg in order to give the viewers an emotional, recognizable story.
The focus of the play is on the meeting of Francesca and Robert, a magically beautiful love story. In how two people find each other in four days so that nothing is the same anymore.
“A love story insidiously manages to rise bigger and deeper than itself,” Lahti says.
Silent Bridges has resonated with readers and viewers so strongly that “pilgrimages” have been made to the covered bridges of Madison County and hundreds of dedication ceremonies have been performed on the bridge.
Lahti considers Silent Bridges to be an ageless story that can be recommended to anyone who has ever been in love. “You can identify something powerful and important in a story. It’s not just a palpitation of the heart, but also provokes thoughts.”
Everyday heroism
World literature is full of stories in which a woman meets a vagabond, falls in love and runs away with him. What makes Silent Bridges special is that Francesca chooses her family and everyday life as the hostess of the farm, even though Francesca and Robert fall in love more than ever before in their lives.
For Lahti, there is something big and universal in this pattern that strikes and that people around the world recognize. Almost everyone has to make difficult choices in life that exclude something big.
“Quite often, people choose a built life without underestimating it in any way. There is something about it that makes everyday life heroic. I’m reminded of songs like ‘We’re all heroes’,” Lahti reflects.
Francesca chooses everyday life mainly because of other people. He stifles true love and keeps the secret to himself almost until his death. Lahti is deeply touched by the fact that for 22 years, an old woman carries something inside her that is bigger than the rest of her life on the level of experience.
“There is a terrible contradiction in being able to live the rest of your life without losing what you have found in yourself through falling in love,” Lahti says.
“The book raises interesting questions about the basic building blocks of being human and the significance of love for a person’s self and life. Through the atonement, it is possible to bring people to these things.”