This is a slow, trudging, relatively inaccurate presentation of the Hawthorne classic. Hester is able to keep her chin up day after day as she is verbally abused by her peers. She, of course, refuses to point a finger at the father of her child. We all know who he is and he is still the major coward we know. The problem is the almost silly actions of the townspeople. There is a pack of children who torment the little girl day after day. Hester is brought before the populace and judged time after time. Of course, as is often the case with religion, it is used as a means of justifying cruelty and meanness. It's hard to explain, but this is such a bleak, stark portrayal and about as dull as one can imagine.