The Governess (1998)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Sandra Goldbacher

Writer:

Sandra Goldbacher (written by)

Release Date:

31 July 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

When the father of privileged Rosina da Silva violently dies, she decides to pass herself off as a gentile...

Plot Keywords:

Scotland | Synagogue | Period Piece | Cholera | Photography

Awards:

3 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Minnie Driver	...	Rosina da Silva
Tom Wilkinson	...	Mr. Charles Cavendish
Harriet Walter	...	Mrs. Cavendish
Florence Hoath	...	Clementina Cavendish
Bruce Myers	...	Rosina's Father
Jonathan Rhys Meyers	...	Henry Cavendish
Arlene Cockburn	...	Lily Milk, the Maid
Emma Bird	...	Rebecca
Adam Levy	...	Benjamin
Countess Koulinskyi	...	Aunt Sofka (as The Countess Koulinskyi)
Diana Brooks	...	Rosina's Mother
Raymond Brody	...	Litnoff
Cyril Shaps	...	Doctor
Kendal Cramer	...	Young Rosina
Ralph Riach	...	Mr. Hewlett

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Argentina:16 | Chile:18 | Spain:13 | USA:R | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Brodick Castle, Brodick, Arran, North Ayrshire, Scotland, UK

Company:

Arts Council of England

Goofs:

Continuity: When Mr. Cavendish takes the first photo of Miss Blackchurch, the camera is pointing toward the floor and not where Mr. Cavendish is looking.

Quotes:

Charles Cavendish: I do not feel myself.
Mary Blackchurch: Nor do I. But we can be any self we want, can't we?

I would rather be a prostitute swallowing semolina than become that fish merchant's wife.

After her father is murdered, Rosina (Minnie Driver) must marry without love or strike out and try something different. She changes her name and takes a job as a governess.

Of course, she also has to hide her Jewishness and learn to be a Protestant.

Her employer, Charles Cavendish (Tom Wilkinson) is a photographer working on a way to fix the photos he takes so that they last more than a day. She shows an interest in his work and spends her spare time helping. As expected, Minnie Drivers sensuality soon captivates him. He gives up his photographs of nature and gets into portraiture.

He realizes that he is not her intellectual equal and, when he discovers that he was in love with a Jewess, he turns very cruel.

She returns to London during a cholera epidemic, finding her mother dead. He new knowledge enable her family to survive, and she flourishes.

Driver was outstanding, and Jonathan Rhys Meyers was also good as the son.

Sandra Goldbacher's first feature film shows much promise.