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Complexity of Relationships the Focus in Painted Veil
Annabelle Robertson
Entertainment Critic
DVD Release Date: May 8, 2007
Theatrical Release Date: December 20, 2006 (limited)
Rating: PG-13 (for some mature sexual situations, partial nudity, disturbing images and brief drug content)
Genre: Drama
Run Time: 125 min.
Director: John Curran
Actors: Naomi Watts, Edward Norton, Liev Schreiber, Toby Jones, Diana Rigg
Can love grow where none has been planted? This is the question asked by director John Curran (We Don’t Live Here Anymore) in this excellent film starring Edward Norton, Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber.
During a trip home from China, the awkward British bacteriologist Walter Fane (Norton) spots London socialite Kitty (Watts) and immediately asks for her hand in marriage. Bemused, Kitty refuses then accepts in order to escape a dysfunctional home. It’s 1925 and evidence of British colonialism abounds in Shanghai—in the decadent lifestyles and in the general unrest of the populace. Disdainful of the pretentiousness and unable to coax her stoic, unresponsive husband from his books, Kitty is bored and lonely. It’s therefore no surprise when the smarmy and very married Vice Consul (Watts' real-life boyfriend, Schreiber), seduces her.
Walter learns of the affair and issues Kitty an ultimatum. He will either divorce her for adultery, turning her into a pariah, or she will accompany him to the tiny village of Mei-tan-fu, where everyone is dying of cholera. Shocked, Kitty is forced to follow her husband to their new home, an abandoned shack.
Walter is determined to make Kitty suffer, so he deserts his wife during the day and ignores her at night. Kitty’s only friend is a British officer named Waddington (Toby Jones), who spends his days doing drugs and getting drunk with his young Chinese girlfriend. Miles from the village, where people continue to die, Kitty soon realizes that Walter has condemned them both to a slow death—if not from cholera, then surely from boredom.
Waddington recognizes how unhappy Kitty is. He also reveals what a womanizer the Vice Consul was, crushing any fantasies Kitty might have had about reuniting with her ex-lover. Desperate, Kitty ventures into town, where she discovers that her husband is tremendously respected—although he is also reviled as an “Imperialist.” But, as Kitty says, “What woman ever loved a man for his virtue?” It’s tenderness this young woman needs, and Walter offers none.
After Kitty meets the mother superior of an orphanage, she volunteers and begins to find a purpose. But as the cholera spreads and the violence looms, Kitty and Walter realize that unless they find forgiveness they will both be destroyed.
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steandric
5/15/2007 10:13 AM
both the w somerset maugham's novel and the adapted script have clearly indicated that this is the story of kitty fane and her journey of self-discovery in china after going through a life-and-death experience resulting from a vengeful act taken upon her by her doctor husband walter. without doubt it is the story of a woman's progression from being spoiled and pampered to coming into a mature understanding of herself and the world around her. kitty was on every page of the book whereas walter stayed in the background most of the times and died 2/3 into it.
in the preface of the first published copy of the book, maugham wrote specifically about its story:
...to be continued
in the preface of the first published copy of the book, maugham wrote specifically about its story:
...to be continued
steandric
5/15/2007 10:11 AM
Ms. Annabelle Robertson,
re your film review: the painted veil
first of all, thank you very much for a positive review. i love this film and think it's the best film of 2007. naomi watts and edward norton, especially watts, have given the best oscar-winning performances of the year.
however, there is one thing that is bothering because i think you've got the basics wrong.
with due respect to edward norton as a fine actor and the anchoring producer of this project (watts is a co-producer), i think it's incorrect to descibe the story of this film from the viewpoint of doctor walter fane (norton) as if he were the lead character of the film, and kitty fane (watts) were secondary being his wife (the hollywood stereotyped wife).
...to be continued.
re your film review: the painted veil
first of all, thank you very much for a positive review. i love this film and think it's the best film of 2007. naomi watts and edward norton, especially watts, have given the best oscar-winning performances of the year.
however, there is one thing that is bothering because i think you've got the basics wrong.
with due respect to edward norton as a fine actor and the anchoring producer of this project (watts is a co-producer), i think it's incorrect to descibe the story of this film from the viewpoint of doctor walter fane (norton) as if he were the lead character of the film, and kitty fane (watts) were secondary being his wife (the hollywood stereotyped wife).
...to be continued.
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this is why naomi watts is billed before edward norton as one can see on the warner independent website, the official poster and the opening credits of the film. this is also why greta barbo was the lead in the 1934 version.
this film should be described from the viewpoint of kitty fane as this is her story, not that of her husband.
regards.