The White Countess (2005)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

James Ivory

Writer:

Kazuo Ishiguro (written by)

Release Date:

10 February 2006 (Italy)

Genre:

Drama | History | Romance | War

Plot:

Set in 1930s Shanghai, where a blind American diplomat develops a curious relationship with a young Russian refugee who works odd -- and sometimes illicit -- jobs to support members of her dead husband's aristocratic family.

Plot Keywords:

Countess | Diplomat | Japanese | Russian | Shanghai

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Natasha Richardson	...	Countess Sofia Belinskya
Lynn Redgrave	...	Olga Belinskya
Madeleine Potter	...	Grushenka
Madeleine Daly	...	Katya
John Wood	...	Prince Peter Belinsky
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Princess Vera Belinskya
Allan Corduner	...	Samuel Feinstein
Timur Engalychev	...	Feinstein Child
Lucy Sutton	...	Feinstein Child
Amir Maimon	...	Feinstein Child
Itay Eltahan	...	Feinstein Child
Dan Herzberg	...	Frenchman
Aislín McGuckin	...	Maria (as Aislin Mcguckin)
Dong Fu Lin	...	Taxi Dance Hall Manager (as Lin Dong Fu)
Ralph Fiennes	...	Todd Jackson

Runtime:

135 min

Country:

UK | USA | Germany | China

Language:

English | French | Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:PG | Ireland:PG | Finland:K-11 | Sweden:11 | Singapore:NC-16 (DVD rating) | Singapore:PG | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:Atp | USA:PG-13 (MPAA rating: #42172) | South Korea:15

Filming Locations:

Shanghai, China

Company:

Merchant Ivory Productions

Trivia:

In preparation for his role, Ralph Fiennes observed a blind man's average day with help from the Royal Society for the Blind. During the shoot he would wear special glasses to simulate blindness before each take.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: A song performed in a night club early in the movie is the original Cninese (Mandarin) version of what became an international hit for Frankie Laine in the early 50s under the name of "Rose Rose I Love You". The original was written in 1940, while the scene was set in 1937.

Quotes:

Sofia: We all have to fall in love from time to time... To feed our daughters, and our mothers. And sisters.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Charlie Rose Show: (2005-12-30)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Nocturne #9 in E Minor

A Broader Canvas with Big, Heavy Doors

Greetings again from the darkness. One can always count on a Merchant/Ivory film to appear soft and flowing on the outside and explosive on the inside with a pinch of unrequited love on the side. The misleading smile on Ralph Fiennes face and the gentleness of Natasha Richardson mask the inner turmoil only to themselves.

Fiennes plays Todd Jackson, an infamous former U.S. diplomat who worked wonders with the Chinese government. Sadly his life took an awful turn when he was blinded and his daughter killed during a tram bombing. His life a mess, Jackson "sees" his idea for an entertainment establishment in his head. Once he has secured the funding, he selects his "centerpiece" ... former Russian Countess Sophie (Richardson). Their business relationship is highly successful but does nothing to help Richardson's torturous family situation. Watching their worlds collide, with an assist from warring nations is a slow and painful ride.

Richardson is simply terrific and elegant as Sophie. Her scenes with Fiennes and her scenes with her family are magnificent and powerful. The only thing preventing the film from being truly top notch is the over-reliance on subtlety in the Fiennes/Richardson relationship.

Outstanding support work is provided by Hiroyoki Sanada as the mysterious Mr. Matsuda, but the real treat for film lovers is the opportunity to see Lynn and Vanessa Redgrave together on screen. As is customary for Merchant/Ivory, the direction is a bit heavy-handed and dialog extremely limiting, but the strong performances allow the film to be very solid and watchable.