Dancing in the Dark (1986 film)

Dancing in the Dark is a 1986 drama film directed by Leon Marr, starring Martha Henry, Neil Munro, and Rosemary Dunsmore. The film is an adaptation of the novel Dancing in the Dark by Joan Barfoot.

The story centers on Edna Seaton (Martha Henry), a seemingly content housewife who has dedicated her life to serving her husband, Henry (Neil Munro). However, as the film progresses, Edna suffers a mental breakdown and is committed to a psychiatric hospital. Within the hospital setting, through therapy and reflection, she begins to question the choices she has made and the nature of her identity, ultimately realizing the extent to which she has suppressed her own needs and desires in favor of her husband's. The film explores themes of female identity, marital expectations, mental illness, and the societal pressures placed upon women in the mid-20th century. Edna's journey is one of self-discovery and attempts to reclaim her sense of self after years of living according to societal norms. The film examines the consequences of repressed emotions and the psychological toll of sacrificing individual autonomy.