The Governess (1998)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Sandra Goldbacher

Writer:

Sandra Goldbacher (written by)

Release Date:

31 July 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

When the father of privileged Rosina da Silva violently dies, she decides to pass herself off as a gentile...

Plot Keywords:

Scotland | Synagogue | Period Piece | Cholera | Photography

Awards:

3 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Minnie Driver	...	Rosina da Silva
Tom Wilkinson	...	Mr. Charles Cavendish
Harriet Walter	...	Mrs. Cavendish
Florence Hoath	...	Clementina Cavendish
Bruce Myers	...	Rosina's Father
Jonathan Rhys Meyers	...	Henry Cavendish
Arlene Cockburn	...	Lily Milk, the Maid
Emma Bird	...	Rebecca
Adam Levy	...	Benjamin
Countess Koulinskyi	...	Aunt Sofka (as The Countess Koulinskyi)
Diana Brooks	...	Rosina's Mother
Raymond Brody	...	Litnoff
Cyril Shaps	...	Doctor
Kendal Cramer	...	Young Rosina
Ralph Riach	...	Mr. Hewlett

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Argentina:16 | Chile:18 | Spain:13 | USA:R | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Brodick Castle, Brodick, Arran, North Ayrshire, Scotland, UK

Company:

Arts Council of England

Goofs:

Anachronisms: This film is set around 1840. In the first scene in which the two main characters become intimate, you hear a zipper as Mr. Cavendish begins to undress. The zipper was not invented until 1891.

Quotes:

Mary Blackchurch: You ask a lot of questions.
Henry Cavendish: Then you ask me one. Anything you like.
Mary Blackchurch: Why are you really back from Oxford?
Henry Cavendish: I was found in an opium den in Spitsfeild with a whore.
[both laugh]
Henry Cavendish: You don't belive me and your not suprised.
Mary Blackchurch: no.

Minnie Driver, stunning as always

I'm always surprised when I see a movie with Minnie Driver. She's not the best looking actress, or the most skilled but she makes every movie she's a part of worth watching. Even Disney's Tarzan was vitalized by her sparkling voice and energetic acting. This movie places the main character in a very odd position in a house with no love. The dangerous triangle betwixt the governess, the father and the son is very interesting. I would however like to have more motives and reason for the governess treatment of the son. Also that relation seems not to "fit" in the movie and should have been given more time to grow. The photography is beautiful and the nice singing of late Ophra Haza adds value to the movie. It has been a while since I last was left so puzzled and thoughtful after a movie. See this movie with a dear friend.