Mrs. Harris

The events center on a stormy night in March 1980, with flashbacks tracing the relationship through the late 1970s. The courtroom sequence reframes the narrative around the trial that follows the shooting. The period’s cultural climate informs the seriousness of the scandal and the characters’ public scrutiny.

The central action unfolds at the Purchase, New York estate where Harris confronts Tarnower during a stormy night. The Madeira School in Virginia is the setting of Harris's work as a headmistress, highlighting the social world and expectations surrounding her. The contrast between opulent private spaces and public reputations underscores the themes of power and judgment in the story.

⚖️ Power & Control

The film explores how Tarnower wields emotional and social power over Harris, constraining her choices and autonomy. His domineering personality and insistence on control fuel the relationship’s deterioration. Harris’s response—seeking to end the affair—collides with his insistence on domination, driving the dramatic conflict.

💘 Obsession & Jealousy

The romance centers on desire that spirals into fixation, with Tarnower’s attention pulled toward his younger secretary and away from Harris. The film portrays how obsession distorts perception and justifies coercive behavior. Harris’s fear of losing status, security, and family further intensifies the emotional turmoil.

⚖️ Justice & Reputation

As the narrative shifts to the courtroom, the trial questions the line between self-defense and calculated act. Public scrutiny and media narratives shape how Harris’s actions are interpreted. The verdict and sentencing expose the harsh consequences of a scandal within high society.