The Painted Veil

Introduction

This, the third film adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham`s novel The Painted Veil, begins in 1925 China, where Walter and Kitty Fane (Edward Norton and Naomi Watts) are being carried in sedan chairs across mainland China. Their destination is the village of Mei-Tan-Fu, where a terrible cholera epidemic has claimed the life of the medical officer and Walter, a bacteriologist, has decided to help. Two years previously, in London, Kitty had learned that her father will not support her indefinitely and that she is expected to marry. Walter, looking for a wife to take back to Shanghai, proposes and Kitty accepts, despite not loving him. In Shanghai, Walter spends all his time working, and the neglected and bored Kitty becomes attracted to Charlie Townsend (Liev Schreiber), the British Vice-Consul, and they begin an affair, which Walter discovers. He issues Kitty with an ultimatum: a quiet divorce, if Charlie will also divorce and marry her, or stay with him wherever his work takes them. Charlie has no intention of divorcing his wife, so Kitty is forced to stay and travel into the deadly region.

Once in Mei-Tan-Fu, she meets Waddington (Toby Jones) the British deputy commissioner, his Chinese partner and the Mother Superior (Diana Rigg) of a French convent which acts as an orphanage. Ron Nyswaner`s screenplay expands the original story to include the tumult in China at the time, with Nationalists railing against the presence of foreigners. With little to do in the small village and warned away from the local town due to the anti-British sentiment, she volunteers to help at the orphanage and begins to see the selfless work her husband is doing and another side to his seemingly cold character.

Video

A gorgeous anamorphic 1.78:1 transfer, which does full justice to the beautiful mist-topped hills and the Chinese countryside. The production design, set decoration and location filming convincingly depict 1920`s China.

Audio

The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is very clear and well balanced, presenting the dialogue and Alexandre Desplat`s Golden Globe-winning score extremely well. It`s a delicate score that is only over-sentimental right at the end.

Clear and well-written English HoH subtitles are available.

Features

The `Making of The Painted Veil` featurette runs at a paltry ten minutes and has poor sound and visual quality; there are a few points of interest, but nothing to get excited about. There is also the almost compulsory theatrical trailer.

Conclusion

In the strange world of filmmaking, this US/Chinese co-production has an Australian and two Americans actors playing the English lead characters. Edward Norton copes very well with the accent, as do Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts, although her Aussie twang is occasionally noticeable. Norton and Watts both put in fine performances, especially Norton as the shy and uptight doctor, trying to save lives, when local customs and warlords have to be accomodated. Waddington, the British diplomat, is a great little character, terrifically played by Toby Jones and Diana Rigg does not disappoint.

It`s just a shame that the film did not make more of Walter and Kitty`s relationship prior to her adultery, which could and should have delivered a bigger dramatic punch. `The Painted Veil` looks fantastic, is beautifully scored and is an undemanding and fairly engaging period drama - a recommended rental.