Mrs. Soffel, in her mid-30’s and the mother of four children, was known for her good works among the prisoners in her husband’s jail, where she would make regular rounds, giving out Bibles and words of Christian wisdom. Late that winter, Mrs. Soffel did one good work too many, carrying the concept of Christian charity into the dizzy, unexplored heights of erotic fantasy. She not only engineered the escape of two convicted young murderers, Ed and Jack Biddle, but she also – apparently of her own free will – joined the Biddle brothers in their flight. – NYT
Why you may wish to watch it: Set in 1901 and based on a true story, it “does a great job of showing us the clothing of the people who have the emotions, and the rooms they live in, and the way light falls on their faces, and how they look when they escape across the frozen north in a bobsled.” – Roger Ebert
Why you may wish to skip it: “Mrs. Soffel” is great to look at, but the superb visuals become deadening; the movie has been decorated instead of populated. – Roger Ebert
Starring Diane Keaton, Mel Gibson, Matthew Modine, Edward Herrmann, Trini Alvarado.