The Painted Veil

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The Painted Veil

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Based on the classic novel by W. Somerset Maugham "The Painted Veil" is a love story set in the 1920s that tells the story of a young English couple Walter a middle class doctor and Kitty an upper-class woman who get married for the wrong reasons and relocate to Shanghai where she falls in love with someone else. When he uncovers her infidelity in an act of vengeance he accepts a job in a remote village in China ravaged by a deadly epidemic and takes her along. Their journey brings meaning to their relationship and gives them purpose in one of the most remote and beautiful places on earth.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA UPC: 012569585577 Manufacturer No: 58557

Amazon.com:

Produced by Edward Norton and Naomi Watts, The Painted Veil works well as a movie--even better as an actor's showcase. The year is 1925. When her domineering mother pressures her to marry, Kitty (Watts) settles for shy bacteriologist Walter (Norton). Then Walter is transferred from London to Shanghai and the lonely and bored Kitty drifts into an affair with married diplomat Charlie (Liev Schreiber). When Walter finds out, he makes a startling proposition: either Kitty accompanies him to the cholera-infested countryside or he'll divorce her. With no other prospects, she comes along on what looks like a double-suicide mission. Based on the novel by W. Somerset Maugham, The Painted Veil was adapted by Philadelphia's Ron Nyswaner (who knows a little something about infectious diseases). As two previous versions made little impact--despite Garbo's presence in the 1934 melodrama--John Curran's film is sure to stand as definitive. Interestingly, Norton, who studied Chinese history at Yale, chose Watts as his co-star, while Watts chose Curran, for whom she appeared in 2004's underrated We Don't Live Here Anymore. Filmed on location, the handsome production is, in many respects, just as old-fashioned as its source material--sex is merely suggested and Kitty is shocked that their English neighbor (Toby Jones) has a Chinese lover--but the ending packs a feminist twist. Mostly though, The Painted Veil is about the acting, and Watts and Norton, along with Diana Rigg as a disillusioned Mother Superior, have rarely been better. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews:

Rating:
Date: 2008-07-06
One for your collection.
A beautiful classic movie to add to your video library. The actors and the score are outstanding, as well as the cinematography.

Rating:
Date: 2008-07-03
Heartwrenching
Loved the movie! Spellbinding! Time lost being selfish. So little time to know true love! Award winning film!!

Rating:
Date: 2008-06-27
Perfect
"And God instructed Hosea to take a harlot wife, as an example of His love for Israel" A story of one man's jealous love, for his immature bride.

Based on the book by W. Somerset Maugham. Naomi Watts and Edward Norton bring to life a poignant and evolving relationship, between a stern, awkward young doctor and his spoiled bride. A haunting score compliments their understated performances, brilliantly set in south China. Their story unfolds, a story of a faithless bride, caught by her husband and forced to follow him to a cholera outbreak, and ultimately, the restoration of their relationship to a level far deeper than ever before.

The tensions in the air are beautiful, and the development and growth in the characters are refreshing. Excellent score! I just leave the DVD menu running, and listen to that one song over and over. But the Painted Veil would be moving even as a silent film.

Rating:
Date: 2008-06-11
Breathtaking
I am from the UK (but much prefer this site to amazon.co.uk). This film (for those of you who are unfortunate enough to be yet to see it) is absolutely breathtaking. I am only sixteen, but found this to be immensely moving and incredibly clever. There is a slow start, but by ten minutes in, you will be incapable of allowing your attention to wander for even a second. Truly excellent, and I would recommend it to anyone.

Rating:
Date: 2008-06-04
Another example of the Oscar ignoring great work
The Painted Veil never got the attention it deserves. The plot is simple but the movie is about the unveiling of 2 people layer by layer. Much of the praise goes to Watts and Norton for showing the many sides of their characters in a subtle way. There are no huge crying or screaming scenes. It is never overacted but the characters remain compelling. I would have liked to see more about the politics of the Cholera epidemic at the time since it is an interesting event. That is a small criticism though and doesn't diminish the quality of the movie.

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