Monday, January 1, 2007

THE PAINTED VEIL




Drama

BACKGROUND
Cholera is a water-borne disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, which is typically ingested by drinking contaminated water or by eating improperly cooked fish, especially shellfish. About one million bacteria must be ingested to cause cholera in normally healthy adults, although increased susceptibility may be observed in those with a weakened immune system, individuals with decreased gastric acidity, or those who are malnourished. The death rate is generally high due to the serious dehydration caused by the illness.

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Naomi Watts: Kitty Garstin, a London socialite
Edward Norton: Dr. Walter Fane, a respected British bacteriologist
Liev Schreiber: British diplomat Charlie Townsend
Toby Jones: Deputy Commissioner Waddington
Anthony Wong Chau-Sang: Chinese nationalist commander Colonel Yu
Diana Rigg: Mother Superior

REVIEW
W. Somerset Maugham's epic love story has been beautifully adapted to film with great attention to making it look and feel authentic. The acting is top notch, done with feeling that mirrors life resulting in real, believable characters. The story is well-paced allowing time for character development and provides more than a few opportunities to linger on many beautiful images, not only of the countryside but also of the actors themselves. Some of the shots are nothing less than spectacular.

CLASSIFICATION
for some mature sexual situations, partial nudity, a few disturbing images and brief drug content.

P.S.
I have no idea how the film title ties in with the movie.

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