i rent this movie from the library ( it hard to find for good reason ) purely out of curiosity . i be a huge plath fan and this movie be a complete disappointment . the bell jar ( 1979 ) be by far one of the bad movie i have ever see . the script be horrible and not because it stray from the original novel text and but because it stray without focus or intent . the scene be ill construct and do not lead the viewer anywhere . what with the hokey voice over of plath poetry . lady lazarus have little do with greenwood situation while plath poetry be completely misuse . marilyn hassett be completely unbelievable a esther greenwood ( or any 20 year old for that matter ) partly due to cast ( she be 32 during filming and the age plath be when she die ) and partly due to the fact that she can not act . hassett be all emotion and no craft and no skill . the direction be mediocre while the director simply cover what there and which isn not much . the only reason i be give the film a 1 be because 0 isn not an option . sorry sylvia and you will have to wait for someone else to adapt your fine work into something more fitting .