The Painted Veil (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
Set in 1920's China, 'The Painted Veil', directed by John Curran & based on a classic novel by W. Somerset Maugham, tells the love story of a young English couple, Walter Fane (Edward Norton), a bacteriologist, & Kitty (Naomi Watts), his socialite wife. They get married for the wrong reasons, relocate to Shanghai, she commits adultery, and her punishment is accompanying him to a remote village that is ravaged by disease. There, among the death & despair ... they slowly build a meaningful relationship. The story is simple, sad & somewhat predictable. But the 'telling' of that story, some exquisite cinematography, a gorgeous musical score (by Alexandre Desplat), and Naomi Watts' performance makes this film a surefire winner.
With fear of being a spinster for all her days, Kitty accepts Walter's urgent marriage proposal; he's in love with the 'idea' of her. They are a mismatch. But she is just happy to shut up her mother who is always nagging about prospective husbands. However, if she was bored at home with mom, she's really bored now in Shanghai with Walter. And so, she starts said love affair with English Vice-Consul, Charlie Townsend (an underused Liev Schreiber). Walter bitterly knows of the affair. Harsh words are spoken to each other. And Kitty's worried about a scandal. BUT, if she'll keep Walter company as he helps a cholera-ridden town in the mountains, he'll allow 'her' to divorce 'him' upon their return. No scandal. Deal.
Amid deplorable conditions, they (along with another consul, Waddington, played by Toby Jones of Infamous, & a French Mother Superior who runs a town orphanage, played by Diana Rigg of The Worst Witch) become subject to resistance from the sick, hateful townsfolk. They don't want any foreigners in their town. All they know of the Brits is that they are murderers. So they're all in an incredibly sticky situation. Missing Charlie, & alone in her house, Kitty ventures to town to help at the orphanage. It is here that she witnesses Walter's tireless devotion to the sick. Her anger towards him turns to fear, then to appreciation, then admiration, then to love. Can Walter forgive her? Can they actually get to know one another? Under these extreme conditions, can a mutual love flourish?
Although this is a love story, a chunk of the plot involves the supporting characters & the British-Chinese conflict. Colonel Yu (Anthony Wong) wants medical help from Walter, but knows his presence is unhealthy to the already unhealthy community. If they accept aid from foreigners, it also means that they are subject to Western ways that they are so against; so tensions are high everywhere. Waddington & Mother Superior are wholly compassionate people (virtues our two main characters initially lack), but even 'they' have ingrained Western conditions to employ. Edward Norton is quite good as Walter. I believed in Walter & his chemistry with Kitty. But it is Naomi Watts who makes this movie shine. She removes a cold 'veil', of sorts, and allows her soft side to resonate.
Watts shows us Kitty in both spectrums; we see her bratty bitchiness, but then we see the slow revelation of someone we actually pity. At first, we marvel at her vain, materialistic aloofness, and then appreciate her gritty metamorphosis in rural China. I've seen Watts in 7-8 films now & she's quickly becoming one of my favorite nuance actresses. This film is methodically-paced, but immersive. You may need to be in the right mood to watch it; patience is required. But if you involve yourself with the characters, you'll be sure to witness a quiet, incredibly moving film. 'The Painted Veil' is well-directed, emotionally effective, beautifully-constructed, & one of the best old-fashioned love stories that I've seen in a long time.
With fear of being a spinster for all her days, Kitty accepts Walter's urgent marriage proposal; he's in love with the 'idea' of her. They are a mismatch. But she is just happy to shut up her mother who is always nagging about prospective husbands. However, if she was bored at home with mom, she's really bored now in Shanghai with Walter. And so, she starts said love affair with English Vice-Consul, Charlie Townsend (an underused Liev Schreiber). Walter bitterly knows of the affair. Harsh words are spoken to each other. And Kitty's worried about a scandal. BUT, if she'll keep Walter company as he helps a cholera-ridden town in the mountains, he'll allow 'her' to divorce 'him' upon their return. No scandal. Deal.
Amid deplorable conditions, they (along with another consul, Waddington, played by Toby Jones of Infamous, & a French Mother Superior who runs a town orphanage, played by Diana Rigg of The Worst Witch) become subject to resistance from the sick, hateful townsfolk. They don't want any foreigners in their town. All they know of the Brits is that they are murderers. So they're all in an incredibly sticky situation. Missing Charlie, & alone in her house, Kitty ventures to town to help at the orphanage. It is here that she witnesses Walter's tireless devotion to the sick. Her anger towards him turns to fear, then to appreciation, then admiration, then to love. Can Walter forgive her? Can they actually get to know one another? Under these extreme conditions, can a mutual love flourish?
Although this is a love story, a chunk of the plot involves the supporting characters & the British-Chinese conflict. Colonel Yu (Anthony Wong) wants medical help from Walter, but knows his presence is unhealthy to the already unhealthy community. If they accept aid from foreigners, it also means that they are subject to Western ways that they are so against; so tensions are high everywhere. Waddington & Mother Superior are wholly compassionate people (virtues our two main characters initially lack), but even 'they' have ingrained Western conditions to employ. Edward Norton is quite good as Walter. I believed in Walter & his chemistry with Kitty. But it is Naomi Watts who makes this movie shine. She removes a cold 'veil', of sorts, and allows her soft side to resonate.
Watts shows us Kitty in both spectrums; we see her bratty bitchiness, but then we see the slow revelation of someone we actually pity. At first, we marvel at her vain, materialistic aloofness, and then appreciate her gritty metamorphosis in rural China. I've seen Watts in 7-8 films now & she's quickly becoming one of my favorite nuance actresses. This film is methodically-paced, but immersive. You may need to be in the right mood to watch it; patience is required. But if you involve yourself with the characters, you'll be sure to witness a quiet, incredibly moving film. 'The Painted Veil' is well-directed, emotionally effective, beautifully-constructed, & one of the best old-fashioned love stories that I've seen in a long time.