Summary
In a searing indictment of political venality and marital commodification, 'Ambition' dissects the corrosive effect of unbridled aspiration on the human spirit. We witness Robert Powers, a rising assistant district attorney, whose moral compass has been irrevocably skewed by his hunger for advancement. When passed over for promotion by the influential political boss John Moore, Powers orchestrates a chillingly calculated gambit: he invites Moore to his Long Island estate, subtly deploying his elegant wife, Marian, as a strategic asset to curry favor. The manipulation deepens as Powers contrives an 'accident' during trap shooting, ensuring Moore's prolonged convalescence under their roof. In this enforced intimacy, Marian, initially a reluctant participant in her husband's scheme, finds herself drawn into an authentic emotional connection with Moore, a stark contrast to the transactional nature of her own marriage. As love blossoms amidst the deceit, Marian confronts the stark reality of her husband's callous indifference to their union, his career eclipsing all else. A plan for escape with Moore solidifies, only to be dramatically intercepted by her young daughter, Betty, whose innocent plea cuts through the romantic haze, forcing Moore to confront the potential cost to Marian's maternal bond. Recognizing the impossible sacrifice Marian would face, Moore makes the agonizing decision to depart alone. In a powerful denouement, Marian, stripped of her illusions and empowered by her ordeal, reclaims her agency, banishing her manipulative husband and forging an independent life with her daughter, a testament to resilience forged in the crucible of betrayal.
Synopsis
Assistant district attorney Robert Powers learns that political boss John Moore has chosen another candidate for promotion over himself, Powers invites Moore to his Long Island estate for the weekend and urges his lovely wife Marian to entertain Moore to win his favor. After Powers arranges for Moore to be injured while trap shooting so that he has to spend weeks at their home, Marian nurses Moore and they fall in love with each other. When Marian realizes that her husband cares more about his career than their marriage, she plans to leave with Moore, but her daughter Betty intervenes and pleads with Moore not to take her mother. Realizing that Marian would have to sacrifice Betty if they went off together, Moore leaves alone. At the end, Marian orders her husband out of their house and lives independently with Betty.
Review Excerpt
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The cinematic landscape, particularly in its nascent years, often served as a potent mirror reflecting the social anxieties and moral quandaries of its era. Few films capture this zeitgeist with the stark clarity and emotional resonance of Ambition. This isn't merely a tale of political maneuvering; it's a deep dive into the corrosive nature of unchecked aspiration, the commodification of personal relationships, and a woman's arduous journey towards self-realization in a world designed to c..."
