Le voile des illusions (2006)

A British medical doctor fights a cholera epidemic in a small Chinese village, while being trapped at home in a loveless marriage to an unfaithful wife.

Director:

John Curran

Writers:

Ron Nyswaner (screenplay), W. Somerset Maugham (novel)

Stars:

Naomi Watts, Edward Norton, Liev Schreiber

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 8 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Catherine An	...	Hostess
Bin Li	...	Te-Ming
Bin Wu	...	Student 1
Alan David	...	Mr. Garstin
Marie-Laure Descoureaux	...	Sister St. Joseph
Sally Hawkins	...	Mary (scenes deleted)
Juliet Howland	...	Dorothy Townsend
Toby Jones	...	Waddington
Lorraine Laurence	...	Sister Maryse
Gwing-Gai Lee	...	Angry Chinese Man (as Johnny Lee)
Li Feng	...	Sung Ching
Gesang Meiduo	...	Amah
Edward Norton	...	Walter Fane
Yin Qing	...	Student 2
Ian Renwick	...	Geoffrey Denison (as Ian Rennick)

Storyline

This love story has Kitty meeting young, intelligent, shy and somewhat dull Dr. Walter Fane, whose forte is the study of infectious diseases, and the convenient marriage that she finds herself committed to. It is in this web of intrigue that they head for China, only after Walter discovers Kitty's infidelity with one dashing and witty diplomat Charlie Townsend. So much as to hide her from herself and to help thwart a cholera outbreak, this is a marriage more than on the rocks. This is a cold, indifferent and loveless partnership in a vast unknown and deadly environment that will test both these flightless lovebirds and with the hardships and tolerances more than any had ever anticipated. A visual delight amid the pain and suffering of a dying people and failing marriage. Will a cure be found for both, before it's too late?

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Plot Keywords:

marriage | china | epidemic | cholera | village | 

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Taglines:

Forgiveness comes at a price

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some mature sexual situations, partial nudity, disturbing images and brief drug content

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

China USA Canada

Language:

Mandarin English French

Release Date:

19 January 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Le voile des illusions

Filming Locations:

Beijing Film Studio, Beijing, China

Box Office

Budget:

$19,400,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$71,814 (USA) (22 December 2006)

Gross:

$8,047,690 (USA) (20 April 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

WIP, Stratus Film Co., Bob Yari Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

125 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Edward Norton personally recruited Naomi Watts for her role in the film.

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Goofs

In the scene in the orphanage where Walter kisses Kitty goodbye before he leaves for the camp, Kitty is sleeping with a child in her arms. The child is lying on his side as Walter kisses her, then a wider angle is shown and the child is all of a sudden sleeping on his back.

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Quotes

Kitty Fane: By the way, you might be happy to know that I am just as useless to the nuns as I am to you.
Walter Fane: I shut off the town's only water supply today.
Kitty Fane: What will you do?
Walter Fane: I have no idea.
Kitty Fane: Hmm. Then I suppose we're both useless. At last, something in common.

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Episode dated 6 January 2007 (2007)

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Soundtracks

A La Claire Fontaine
Traditional French song
Vocals by N. Porebski / L. Descamps
Piano by Roger Pouly
Courtesy of Les Petits Minous
Produced and published by AKCS

User Reviews

Simply Beautiful

Such a level of intimacy between character and viewer is so seldom achieved, that I could not help but be overwhelmed by it. I was moved and shattered by how well I knew these characters, how much I commiserated and empathized for them, and how deeply involved I was in their anger, fears, and love.

The camera often loomed within a dark room, filled only with soft light and the characters clothed in light-colored costume. This ciaroscuro, contrast between light and shadow, created elegance and simplicity that is nothing short of beautiful. Most incredible of all were the zoom shots onto a particular character's face or eyes, emphasizing the sweat on his/her brow or a particularly telling expression on his/her face.

The musical score was very powerful and in-tune with the story told and the amazing characterizations.

I simply LOVED this film. If you are interested in a slow-moving, deep and emotionally stirring film, The Painted Veil is just that film!