1990 German-American production, directed by Volker Schlöndorff (Palmetto). The screenplay adaptation is by Harold Pinter (The French Lieutenant's Woman). Natasha Richardson (The Parent Trap) plays Kate (Offred in the book) the handmaiden. The Commander and his wife are Robert Duvall and Faye Dunaway.

Atwood's book is somewhat distilled into "Look at the bad,bad fascist fundamentalists and the destructive effect they have on society." It goes into blatant cliches with the Ruling Elite attends a decadent orgy, meanwhile ordinary citizens are executed for fornication out of wedlock and other crimes against morality. It would have been ten times more chilling if these blaring abuses were toned down with more realism.