The Governess

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Me Without You (0%)

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Plot: Minnie Driver stars as an impoverished Jewish woman, Mary, living in an emphatically anti-Semitic England in the mid-19th century. Following the murder of her beloved father--who leaves his survivor...( read more  )s strapped with his debts--she camouflages her identity as a Protestant of Italian descent and takes a job as governess to an unorthodox Scottish family. In this film by Sandra Goldbacher, sundry conventions from Victorian novels mix with a contemporary, feminist take on Mary's subsequent adventures. Mary asserts, with some effort, her authority over her willful charge (Florence Hoath); she dodges the insults of a vaguely ghoulish matriarch (Harriet Walter); and she becomes an aide, confidante, and lover to the man of the house (Tom Wilkinson), a naturalist dabbling with early experiments in photography. Goldbacher fails to make it all feel as fully realized as it could be (much of the detail and soul of Mary's life in London is too telescoped and impressionistic to sink in). But the film's middle section, in which the heroine's complicity with Wilkinson's married character engages her keen intelligence as well as her untapped sensuality, is deeply felt. It's nice to see Driver prove she can carry a film, though the dreamy, exotic photography by Ashley Rowe certainly pulls a viewer along as well. --Tom Keogh

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  MCT:

  September 30, 2007

  A slow and sometimes bleak drama with Minnie Driver putting in a fine performance as a Jewish woman sent to be a governess to a Scottish family. There is littlle chemistry between Driver and the always great Tom Wilkinson and this is the films biggest downfall. OK but not brilliant.

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  haroldchasen
  

  MCT:

  July 8, 2007

  Interesting film about a Sephardic Jewish woman in 1800s London who is sent to be a governess in Scotland. Despite some historical inconsistencies, a good film to watch if you like British period dramas. Not as good as Sandra Goldbacher's other movie (Me Without You) but worth watching...

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  organgrinder136
  

  MCT:

  June 2, 2007

  very erotic yet without the sex, some very emotional scenes and minnie driver looking as alluring as ever while portraying a jewess quite authentically if you ask me. well directed also

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  Rosskernow
  

  MCT:

  May 31, 2007

  Period drama starring Minnie Driver. Good viewing. A Jewish family fall on hard times when the father is murdered and Mary decides to leave home to make her way in the World outside of the Jewish Commnity. She accepts a post as Governess in a disucntional household on the Isle of Skye. The interatctions with the family, spoilt daughter, matriach of the house, scientist father and strange brother. Great sensitive part played by Minnioe Driver and good part by Tom Wilkinson as the scientist that takes Mary as his assistant and lover.

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  waleslad
  

  MCT:

  May 30, 2007

  hmmmm, not one of the best films ever seen. good for a late night bored and nothing on tv. very obvious plot lines and very slow moving.

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• 
  Florence Hoath
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  Harriet Walter
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  Jonathan Rhys-Meyers
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  Minnie Driver
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  Tom Wilkenson
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  Tom Wilkinson

• Rated: (R)
• Directed by: Sandra Goldbacher
• Genres: Art House & International, Drama
• Released: July 31, 1998
• DVD Released: February 16, 1999

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