Set in 1930s Shanghai, where a blind American diplomat develops a curious relationship with a young Russian refugee who works odd -- and sometimes illicit -- jobs to support members of her dead husband's aristocratic family.
Twenty-eight-year-old Kansas University doctoral student Omar Razaghi (Omar Metwally) wins a grant to write a biography of Latin American writer Jules Gund. Omar must get through to three ... See full summary »
Director:
James Ivory
Stars:
Omar Metwally,
Anthony Hopkins,
Charlotte Gainsbourg
This fictionalized story, based on the family life of writer James Jones, is an emotionless slice-of-life story. Jones here is portrayed as Bill Willis, a former war hero and now successful... See full summary »
Director:
James Ivory
Stars:
Leelee Sobieski,
Kris Kristofferson,
Barbara Hershey
Set during World War II, an upper-class family begins to fall apart due to the conservative nature of the patriarch and the progressive values of his children.
Director:
James Ivory
Stars:
Paul Newman,
Joanne Woodward,
Saundra McClain
The passionate Merchant Ivory drama tells the story of Françoise Gilot (Natascha McElhone), the only lover of Pablo Picasso (Sir Anthony Hopkins) who was strong enough to withstand his ferocious cruelty, and move on with her life.
Director:
James Ivory
Stars:
Anthony Hopkins,
Natascha McElhone,
Julianne Moore
In the opulent St. Petersburg of the Empire period, Eugene Onegin is a jaded but dashing aristocrat - a man often lacking in empathy, who suffers from restlessness, melancholy and, finally,... See full summary »
Anne is investigating the life of her grand-aunt Olivia, whose destiny has always been shrouded with scandal. As Anne delves into the history of her grand-aunt, she is led to reconsider her own life.
Director:
James Ivory
Stars:
Julie Christie,
Greta Scacchi,
Christopher Cazenove
In a Florence pensione circa 1900 with English guests, George Emerson (Julian Sands) and his dad (Denholm Elliott) offer their rooms with views to Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham Carter) and her chaperone, Charlotte Bartlett (Dame Maggie Smith). Lucy and George get acquainted, but Lucy returns to England. George and Lucy meet again, but now she's engaged.
Director:
James Ivory
Stars:
Maggie Smith,
Helena Bonham Carter,
Denholm Elliott
A woman becomes very curious about one of her psychiatrist husband's inmates, a man who was found guilty in the murder and disfigurement of his former wife.
Director:
David Mackenzie
Stars:
Natasha Richardson,
Sean Harris,
Marton Csokas
Shanghai. 1936. Crossroads of the world and into this city of political intrigue comes Sofia, a Russian Countess who, with the remains of her family, has been left stateless by the Revolution. Forced by her reduced circumstances to support herself and her family as a bar-girl and taxi dancer, Sofia forms a relationship with Jackson, a blind former diplomat who opens an elegant bar; The White Countess. Their curious relationship matures but they are caught up in the fall of the city to the Japanese invaders.Written by
johnno.r@xtra.co.nz
The poignancy of this movie outweighs any shortcomings in the directorial department. I found myself immersed in the milieu of 1930's ShangHai, a place and time I had only read of and subsequently wondered about.
The real strength of this movie is the accessibility with which powerful emotion is portrayed. I found I had real empathy for the characters.
The characters were played superbly by one of the most pedigreed casts I've seen in a while.
The pace was slow, but measured and well-suited to the plot.
Ralph Fiennes was a convincing lead -- the image of him reminds me of TS Eliot mixed with Rick Blaine (Casablanca).
Natasha Richardson is brilliant in this role. Understated and quite believable.
All in all a beautiful, other worldly movie, and not for the faint-hearted.
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The poignancy of this movie outweighs any shortcomings in the directorial department. I found myself immersed in the milieu of 1930's ShangHai, a place and time I had only read of and subsequently wondered about.
The real strength of this movie is the accessibility with which powerful emotion is portrayed. I found I had real empathy for the characters.
The characters were played superbly by one of the most pedigreed casts I've seen in a while.
The pace was slow, but measured and well-suited to the plot.
Ralph Fiennes was a convincing lead -- the image of him reminds me of TS Eliot mixed with Rick Blaine (Casablanca).
Natasha Richardson is brilliant in this role. Understated and quite believable.
All in all a beautiful, other worldly movie, and not for the faint-hearted.