The White Countess

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Taís F Es disfrutable, y conmovedora, pero en la primera hora se hace lenta. Y en general durante toda la trama falta conexión emocional entre los protagonistas con la audiencia, sabemos que pasa algo pero debemos verlo en pantalla. Para los últimos 45 minutos se pone interesante y dramática. Las actuaciones, el escenario, los vestuarios, la música y demás están bien ejecutadas. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/19/24 Full Review Audience Member I was stunned to see that this rather lazy, robotic film was a Merchant Ivory production. One of the things they are usually known for is creating tension and intense emotions with minimal dialogue, while keeping it in period. Some of the problem with dialogue in this film may have been Ralph Fiennes awful attempt at an American accent, as well as Natasha Richardson's surprisingly wooden Russian one (along with her mum, Vanessa and aunt Lynn). It was as if someone decided to recreate Cabaret in Shanghai but missed the most important elements (and I don't even like Cabaret). They DID get the lush production value and period tunes right (though many sounded as if lifted straight from Coppola's The Cotton Club"), but that's about it. It's also just as drawn out as most other critics said. If you want to see a great performance by Richardson, watch her with Liam Neeson and Jodi Foster in "Nell". Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review michael g The plot revolves around Sophia, a Russian countess, thrown out of her country in post revolution Russia, without a passport, money, or any means of supporting herself. She finds herself in Shanghai just before the Japanese takeover, doing whatever it takes to survive. She becomes a prostitute in a nightclub, supporting her daughter and extended family, only to have them scorn her, while simultaneously depending on her for their survival. Natasha is brilliant in her role, as the proud, but determined mother, doing whatever it takes to survive. Her characters sad haunting smile, as she accepts abuse, her warm, friendly nature, and her devotion to to her daughter shine through. The movie is touching, another reinterpretation of Pygmalion, like My Fair Lady and Pretty Woman; all focus on the same theme. A lost soul, rescued and rehabilitated, but with less melodrama, and more focus on the self sacrifice that a mother will sink to for her daughters happiness. If you haven't seen this, put it on your short list. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member 1.7.19 dvd @ home w/Sh & J Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member An example of a novel literally on the screen, this Merchant ivory tale of exile and love is not lacking in ambition but has too many threads to work as a cinematic narrative. The screenwriter's novelistic origins betray themselves, a shame as it does bring down a quality cast and solid period production values. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member As a drama it doesn't quite hit the heights of 'Empire of the Sun', despite the obvious similarities in time and location of this period piece, however it's still a worthy story of toil in troubled times. It's acted well enough and like many Merchant Ivory productions there's attention to detail in the period set design throughout. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The White Countess

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