The Painted Veil

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The Painted Veil

86% Liked It
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The Painted Veil

Edward Norton, Naomi Watts, Liev Schreiber, Toby Jones, Anthony Wong Chau-Sang

Set in the 1920s, this love story is about a young English couple (a doctor and a society girl) who marry hastily. They relocate to Hong Kong where they betray each other easily, but then they find an...( read more  read more... ) unexpected chance at redemption and happiness while on a deadly journey into the heart of ancient China.

Id: 8600298

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Recent Reviews

The Painted Veil Recent Reviews
  • organgrinder136
    January 1, 2010
    organgrinder136
    if you're watching this because edward norton is in it it's similar to the illusionist in the sense that it's good but still not a scratch on the pants compared to the older stuff. themes running through this are cheating, revenge, forgiveness, love... etc
  • AgentLexi2132
    December 10, 2008
    AgentLexi2132
    ''A gripping tale of infidelity and revenge''

    ''A tense love story not to be missed''

    A period romance of sorts based on the novel by W. Somerset Maugham. The story of a young married couple in the 1920s who marry yet don't know each other. What follow...( read more)s is an affair and a journey into a deadly epidemic.

    Niaomi Watts: Kitty


    Walter Fane: I knew when I married you that you were selfish and spoiled. But I loved you. I knew you only married me to get as far away from your mother as possible. And I hoped that one day... there'd be something more. I was wrong. You don't have it in you.
    Kitty Fane: If a man hasn't what's necessary to make a woman love him then it's his fault not hers.

    Beautiful locations and scenery, wonderfully shot.
    Ambient sounds and soothing entrancing music, the piano playing all you can desire for the senses.
    Excellent scale and clothing fitting to the period. Conveys an artistic vision and a keen eye for cinematography.

    Directed by John Curran (possible relative I assume). He has done a wonderful job on all counts.
    John Curran's nearly pitch perfect film adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham's The Painted Veil begins slowly and patiently, with leisurely flashbacks that elliptically bring us to a singularly absurd predicament: circa 1925, a British doctor (Edward Norton in his second romantic lead following The Illusionist) has brought his lovely young wife into the middle of a Chinese cholera epidemic purely out of spite. It's a wickedly clever little set-up that becomes increasingly more complex and absorbing.

    The note-perfect and delicately layered performances of Watts and Norton, two thespians typically acclaimed for their edgy and independent work and playing against type, are anchored with the literary genius of Maugham and Curran's keen eye and steady hand behind the camera. It's all perfectly accentuated by the brilliantly subversive music score by Alexandre Desplat. These cleverly designed elements coalesce deliciously into a fully fleshed-out whole, and allow The Painted Veil to grow in your mind organically and slowly slip under your skin like an infectious disease.

    ''As if a woman has ever loved a man for his virtue.''

    Ron Nyswaner does a great job of translating Maugham's writing to the screen. Virtually nothing is lost. That keen British wit, the dramatic sense of irony, and the sincere exploration of many heady themes including loveless marriages, adultery, imperialism, charity, religion, and redemption are all captured beautifully by director Curran and screenwriter Nyswaner. Watts and Norton are given plenty to chew on, not only great lines, but great scenes full of lush scenery, and beautiful and textured visual details that serve as perfect backdrops for their complex and unpredictable relationship.

    Edward Norton plays Walter to the right degree. A doctor who is up tight and proper, prudish and stubborn who slowly breaks out of his shell.
    Niaomi Watts as Kitty his wife, she plays her character well. At first seemingly spoilt and wild yet later evolving and emotionally drawn.
    Toby Jones who plays their neighbour was a most jovial likable character, very charismatic.

    ''When love and duty are one, grace is within you.''

    An interesting story of a love that starts one sided and slowly transitions into something so beautiful. Was frustrating at times watching the couple not make any progress yet ultimately compelling and satisfying when they did.

    ''I think China belongs to the Chinese people, but the rest of the world seems to disagree.''

    See this if you liked:

    The piano,

    Memoirs of a Geisha

    A story of forgiveness and love yet mixed with a tragic twist. Worth watching for it's beauty, visually and musically it offers richness.

    ''If people only spoke when they had something to say, the human race would soon lose the power of speech.''
  • laVenrose
    October 2, 2008
    laVenrose
    Sometimes the greatest journey is the distance between two people.


    Rated: (PG-13)

    Directed by: John Curran

    Genres: Drama, Romance

    Starring: Edward Norton, Naomi Watts, Liv Scheiber


    ...( read more)href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/the%20painted%20veil/anylaademaj/Painted-veil-poster1.jpg?o=5" target="_blank">


    "It was silly of us to look for qualities in each other that we never had."
    -Walter Fane-


    THE MOVIE OUTLINE


    "In Austria, Kitty is lonely after her sister's marriage and she agrees to marry her father's research associate Dr. Walter Fane. Fane takes her to China but constantly ignors her in favour of his medical research. Lonely Kitty has an affair with Jack Townsend of the British Embassy. When it is discovered by Walter he becomes very bitter. Fane travels to fight a cholera epidemic and Kitty goes with him and helps. They grow closer together than ever before but Walter is knifed in a riot incited by the burning of a cholera infested town. Now their new found happiness will depend on Walter's survival. "





    MY APPRAISAL


    A good friend of mine has this theory :
    "if our schoolmates say 'this movie is boring/horrible/dull', that means it probably the best movie you'll ever watch..
    but..
    if the phrase
    'this movie's friggin' cool/rocks/incredible!' means a warning because it would be all rubbish." So sad, yes, but that's the awful truth.

    So when this friend I know say Painted Veil's sooo dull.....

    well, you get the idea.



    A portrait of betrayal and trust wrapped in beautiful scenes in "The Painted Veil". The characters developments is flawless. Edward Norton and Naomi Watts' character seem real and far from being over dramatized. Both actings terrific. As I saw Norton plays Walter Fane, I didn't see him as roles he played in Illusionist or Fight Club but simply as the quiet and complicated bacteriologist. This is just a testimony how excellent Norton did his job here. I ADORE HIM VERY MUCH!!

    The Painted Veil visually impressive. The scenery is tremendously breathtaking. Beside focusing on the visualization, the movie succeeded to boost its emotional substances. With both flawless performances, it's slow moving in a peaceful and charming way.

    This is not about infatuation..nor obesession. This is a story about affection and forgiveness and     .

    FORGIVENESS COMES AT A PRICE.





    Walter Fane: "Hello."


    Kitty Garstin: "Hello."


    Walter Fane: "Say, I was wondering... "

    Kitty Garstin: "What?"

    Walter Fane: "Sorry. I - I was wondering if you'd like to dance."

    Kitty Garstin: "Why not?"
  • MalumMosIncrebresco
    September 22, 2008
    MalumMosIncrebresco
    Another one that should've definitely gotten a higher rating, if I wasn't such an imbecile.
    Great performances for a short but perfectly appropriate cast. Obviously, Norton and Watts are the ones that shine the most. Specially the latter. Emotionally very powerful in all her char...( read more)acter's stages. But you expect nothing less from her.
    The story, without being amazingly unexpected or outside the box, does have its moments. It's simple, but it's also luring. More importantly though - and this is something extremely difficult to achieve -, I believe it's one that you can relate to at several levels, even if those are not directly connected to the main plot.
    The ending is slightly similar to a "cut the crap, THIS is real life" one, and yet it's delivered in a wrapping filled with momentum and artistic visuals, which matched the rest of the movie perfectly.

    Low aspects?
    Honestly can't say it has any.

    Why such a low rating, then?
    Well, the "imbecile" keyword at the beginning of the review kinda gives it away, really...

    Shouldn't I try being a bit more flexible with movie genres that aren't exactly my cup of tea, in that case?

    Hell, will you stop with the fucking questions?
  • evillincoln
    September 4, 2008
    evillincoln
    This movie had me in tears the full last half an hour. I probably related to it a bit to much for comfort, but the ending was perfect and harrowing at the same time.
  • sportboy
    January 3, 2010
    sportboy
    Great film.A great story about a woman who goes on holidays and finds someone she loves.In the end she was engaged and it ends up ending there because they stop loving each other.In the end they go back together and work on their relationship and show good love with each other.
    ...( read more)This film isn't only well delivered but it teaches us lots of things.Firstly it teaches us that people do argue in relationships and some people do find someone else that they loved but it teaches us to go back with the person you loved first of all and work on the relationship.
    Things that they showed in this film happens in real life and it was good to see them putting experiances and difficulties people have faced and then have put that work into the film.
    I thought this film is good too watch if you are watching it for a learning experiance as this film teaches you alot about love and about real life.This isn't just kissing and that kind of thing but its much more than that the love story is done really well.
    The acting performances and the storyline was just great and I reccomend this one.
  • Ziroana
    December 29, 2009
    Ziroana
    i really enjoyed this movie
  • ofriel
    December 29, 2009
    ofriel
    Beautiful cinematography of inner China. Multidimensional movie with story of love and betrayal in the last days of the Republic. Redemption is possible and people can change for the good.

    Love like cholera, can be dangerous.
  • roromendut
    December 26, 2009
    roromendut
    Witing tresno jalaran saka kulino, mungkin pepatah Jawa ini cukup menggambarkan isi cerita film ini. Diawali dengan perkenalan Kitty Fane (Naomi Watts) dengan Walter (Edward Norton) seorang bakteriolog yang membuahkan pernikahan. Setelah menikah, Walter ditugaskan untuk melakukan...( read more) penelitian di Cina. Di awal pernikahan tidak terjadi terlalu banyak konflik. Namun keseriusan Walter dalam melakoni pekerjaannya membuat Kitty yang haus perhatian merasa tersisihkan dan cinta di antara mereka berdua pun mulai pudar?

    Terlebih lagi ketika ternyata perhatian yang dibutuhkan oleh Kitty tersebut dipenuhi oleh Charles Townsend (Liev Shrieber) . Perselingkuhan Kitty dengan Charles sebenarnya sudah diketahui oleh Walter, namun Walter tidak pernah menegur langsung. Malah dia mengajak Kitty untuk ikut mendampinginya ke pedalaman Cina yang tengah terkena wabah kolera.

    Awalnya Kitty tidak mau ikut, dan menantang Walter untuk bercerai. Pada saat itulah Walter memaparkan mengenai perselingkuhan Kitty dengan Charles. Percaya dengan hubungan cintanya dengan Charles, Kitty meminta untuk melanjutkan hubungan ke tahap yang lebih serius dengan meminta Charles untuk menceraikan istrinya. Namun ternyata Charles hanya menganggap hubungan dengan Kitty adalah hiburan semata.

    Untunglah Walter masih mau menerima Kitty di sisinya, walaupun sudah tidak ada lagi perasaan saling percaya satu sama lain. Terkadang walaupun mereka berada di satu ruangan, mereka merasa sangat jauh karena sibuk dengan kegiatannya masing-masing.

    Hingga pada suatu ketika Kitty merasa sangat bosan berada di daerah terpencil Cina, maka dia meloloskan diri dari pengawasan ketat pengawal-pengawal utusan suaminya yang khawatir Kitty tertular wabah. Kitty melancong ke pemukiman penduduk yang terkena wabah, dan mengunjungi gereja yang merawat anak-anak kecil. Tergerak hatinya melihat para biarawan yang mengurus anak-anak tersebut, Kitty ingin dapat menjadi relawan menggantikan salah satu suster yang meninggal terjangkit kolera.

    Tanpa disadari Kitty justru menemukan kedamaian bathin ketika membantu menghibur anak-anak tersebut dengan mengalunkan musik dari piano. Alunan musik tersebut membuat Walter tergugah untuk melihat ke ruangan tempat Kitty sedang bermain piano. Ternyata tempat Walter melakukan penelitiannya tidak jauh dari ruangan tempat Kitty menjadi relawan.

    Melihat perubahan pada Kitty, sikap Walter mulai melunak dan mereka mulai bekerja bahu-membahu demi menolong warga dusun tersebut. Bahkan ketika mengetahui Kitty mengandung anak orang lain, Walter berjanji tetap akan menyayangi anak tersebut. Namun ketika perasaan cinta yang ada sudah mulai menguat kembali, ternyata justru Kitty harus kehilangan Walter yang akhirnya terjangkit kolera.

    Setelah kembali ke negara asalnya, Kitty bersama anaknya sempat berpapasan dengan Charles. Namun Kitty tidak ingin mengulangi kembali hubungan perselingkuhan dengan Charles. Ketika anak Kitty bertanya, siapa pria yang berpapasan dengan mereka tersebut, Kitty hanya menjawab, dia bukan siapa-siapa. Walaupun Walter sudah meninggal, hati Kitty masih sepenuhnya menjadi milik Walter.
  • 339z
    December 26, 2009
    339z
    wow umn just seen this movie 4 the 1st time n think that this is a good movie 2 watch......its got a good cast of actors/actressess throughout this movie....i think that edward norton, naomi watts, liev schreiber, toby jones, anthony wong chau sang play good roles/parts throughou...( read more)t this movie.....i think that the director of this drama/period-revenge movie had done a good job of directing this movie because you never know what 2 expect throughout this movie,,.......i think that edward norton is brilliant throughout this movie....i think that this is a really powerful drama movie 2 watch with a good cast throughout this movie
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