Review: The painted veil
What an incredibly beautiful film! The film's producers struck a deal to film on location in China, and cinematography Stuart Dryburgh took full advantage of the gorgeous countryside. Watching this film, I can almost understand why some friends recently undertook a five week tour of Asia. The film is based on a novel by Somerset Maugham, and concerns a British couple in 1925 China. Married for a variety of reasons - the least of which, it seems, is love - the wife soon launches into an affair with a married British diplomat in Shanghai. When the infidelity is discovered by her husband, he coerces her into traveling to inland China to help fight a cholera epidemic. Away from the distractions of the city, and forced into close quarters, the two discover that by compromise and empathy, they can forgive and truly love.
Edward Norton is fantastic as the cuckolded Doctor Fane. Although I haven't seen many of his film performances (mainly because they were in films I deemed too disturbing for me!), I have been blown away by his two most recent performances - this one and in The Illusionist. He is an actor capable of incredible nuance; his most effective scenes are those with spare dialogue. Naomi Watts is equal to the task of co-star. The supporting performances add immensely to the story - especially Liev Schreiber (who is always so good as the cad) and Diana Rigg (almost unrecognizable!).
The film wasn't as sad as I had feared - I actually didn't shed a tear. It's more a pervasive feeling of melancholy. The ending isn't a conventionally happy one - but totally suits the story. Sad, yes, but ultimately satisfying.
If you're in the mood for a quiet, slow, period drama, this is it. It sticks with you for hours afterward!
Edward Norton is fantastic as the cuckolded Doctor Fane. Although I haven't seen many of his film performances (mainly because they were in films I deemed too disturbing for me!), I have been blown away by his two most recent performances - this one and in The Illusionist. He is an actor capable of incredible nuance; his most effective scenes are those with spare dialogue. Naomi Watts is equal to the task of co-star. The supporting performances add immensely to the story - especially Liev Schreiber (who is always so good as the cad) and Diana Rigg (almost unrecognizable!).
The film wasn't as sad as I had feared - I actually didn't shed a tear. It's more a pervasive feeling of melancholy. The ending isn't a conventionally happy one - but totally suits the story. Sad, yes, but ultimately satisfying.
If you're in the mood for a quiet, slow, period drama, this is it. It sticks with you for hours afterward!
posted by Beth at 9:07 PM
2 Comments:
Re: "Naomi Watts is equal to the task of co-star."
Sorry, Naomi Watts is the LEAD of this film which is about her self-discovery journey as per the Maugham's novel. Edward Norton is her co-star and 2nd billed in the official film credits. Naomi Watts is also a co-producer of the film so this is not merely a task of co-star. With due respect to Edward Norton as as good an actor as Naomi Watts, and to you being one of the many excited-about-Norton female bloggers, please do not slight Naomi Watts and underplay her importance in this film.
You know, you're right. It is much more about the growth of her character and how she grows from the adversity of her marriage and the epidemic. Thanks for sharing a differing view!
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