The Bridges of Madison County is a American romantic drama based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Robert James Waller. The screenplay was adapted by Richard LaGravenese. Kathleen Kennedy was co-producer. The Bridges of Madison County is set in and features Italian war bride , Francesca Johnson Meryl Streep , who lives with her husband and two children on their Iowa farm.
With Francesca's family away for a short trip, the couple have an intense, four-day love affair. In the present, adult siblings Michael and Carolyn Johnson arrive at the Iowa farmhouse of their recently deceased mother, Francesca, to settle her estate.
They are shocked upon learning that Francesca requested to be cremated and her ashes scattered from Roseman Covered Bridge , rather than be buried next to her late husband, Richard. Michael initially refuses, but while he and Carolyn look through the safe deposit box, they discover an envelope containing photographs, letters, and a key.
The photos are of Francesca taken at the Holliwell Covered Bridge and the letters are from a man named Robert Kincaid. The key is to Francesca's locked hope chest. In it are three hardbound notebooks. There are also several National Geographic magazines, including one featuring Madison County's covered wooden bridges , [ 6 ] old cameras, a book, and other mementos. The magazine includes a photo of Kincaid, who photographed the bridges; he is wearing Francesca's crucifix pendant.
As Michael and Carolyn begin reading Francesca's notebooks, the film flashes back to Francesca, a WWII war bride originally from Bari, Italy , stays home while her husband and teenage son and daughter attend the state fair for the next four days. Robert Kincaid, a National Geographic photojournalist on assignment to photograph the county's historic bridges, arrives at the Johnson farm, asking for directions to Roseman Bridge. Francesca rides along to show him the way. Their subsequent affair occurs over four days.
