In THE WHITE COUNTESS, the incomparable Natasha Richardson stars as Sofia, a former Russian countess who has fled with her dead husband's family to 1930s Shanghai. She works in a... more
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Actor(s): Natasha Richardson, Ralph Fiennes, Ralph Fiennes, Lynn Redgrave, Vanessa Redgrave, Natasha Richardson, Lynn Redgrave
Director(s): James Ivory
Genre: Drama
Classification: 12 years and over
Video Category: Feature Film
Plot: In THE WHITE COUNTESS, former Russian countess Sofia has fled to 1930s Shanghai with her dead husbands family. She works in a dance hall where she meets blind former diplomat Todd Jackson. As the tension between the Chinese and Japanese mounts, they find themselves having to deal with their feelings for each other. Set includes REMAINS OF THE DAY.
Release details
DVD Region: Region 2 (Europe)
Studio(s): SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT; CINRAM LOGISTICS
Release date: 21/08/2006
No of Discs: 2
Catalogue No: CDRP 5247
Barcode: 5035822524712
Director of Photography: Christopher Doyle
Producer: Ismail Merchant
Languages
Main Language: English
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Listed on Ciao since : 13/08/2006
DVD Description
In THE WHITE COUNTESS, the incomparable Natasha Richardson stars as Sofia, a former Russian countess who has fled with her dead husband's family to 1930s Shanghai. She works in a seedy dance hall to earn the household's only income but Sofia's dependents are less than grateful, turning up their noses at her fallen stature while remorselessly accepting her money. The blue blood runs thick in Sofia's house, with two other Redgraves, Vanessa and Lynn, flawlessly portraying deposed nobility; Sofia's daughter Katya (Madeleine Potter) is her only source of joy. Meanwhile, blind former diplomat Todd Jackson (Ralph Fiennes) patronizes Shanghai's colourful drinking establishments, and dreams of opening one of his own. He gains the courage to do so when he meets Sofia; she saves him from being robbed one night, intercepting some thuggish types and seeing him to safety while also capturing his imagination. She becomes his muse, her history injecting Jackson's bar--the White Countess--with just the right note of tragedy and romance. Their relationship, however, is kept strictly on the level of a professional friendship. But as the tension between the Chinese and Japanese mounts towards war--catalyzed in part by Jackson's friend, the mysterious but powerful Mr. Matsuda (Hiroyuki Sanada)--Mr Jackson is forced to accept that he cannot keep the world at bay inside the White Countess, and must instead deal directly with his feelings for Sofia. The final entry in the canon of quietly rich tales from producer Ismail Merchant and director James Ivory, THE WHITE COUNTESS enlists Kazuo Ishiguro (REMAINS OF THE DAY) and master cinematographer Christopher Doyle (CHUNGKING EXPRESS) to weave its sumptuous magic. Set includes REMAINS OF THE DAY.
Advantages: Daniel Day - Lewis ! Disadvantages: None !
...This is a movie a lot of people may have missed first time around.
Let me tell you right now that they made a big mistake - this film is one of Martin Scorcese's finest , as well as being one of the best performances by all three leading actors , Daniel Day - Lewis , Michelle Pfeiffer and Winona Ryder.
"...All the performances are excellent ,and the production is a visual tour de force..." (Sight and Sound) - p41 - 6
Based on the novel by Edith Wharton ,the setting for this well- researched , authentic period - piece is 1870 Manhattan , a few years before the emergence of the sprawling slums known as the Four Points , featured in Gangs of New York , which interestingly enough also featured Day - Lewis.
Martin Scorcese further confirms his identity as "Official Chronicler of All Things Real New York " with this searching...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Not that many Disadvantages: Too many to mention
...below 2:05
16. Countess and Abigail 1:36
17. Final Encounter 2:12
18. In Stores Now 0:45
Cast
Hutch . Jon Foster
Abigail .. Samaire Armstrong
Swink .. Frankie Muniz
Phineas Jimmi Simpson
Detective Thibodeaux .. Wendell Pierce
Loomis Crowley . Milo Ventimiglia
October . Sophia Bush
Miller Banks . Adam Goldberg
Rating: PG 13 - Some Violence, bad language and disturbing images.
TAGLINE: You die in the Game - You Die For Real
I was really looking forward to watching this film and it turned out to be a huge disappointment. I read the plot outline and being a horror fanatic I thought this film sounded new and different, let me tell you now it is not. To be honest, in my opinion the film didn't start out too bad, but believe me it got worse.
The film is set in the present day New Orleans. It starts with one of Hutch...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
...During the politically turbulent 1930s Former American diplomat Todd Jackson retreats to Shanghai after losing his sight and his family. He plans to build the perfect bar and befriends the mysterious Matsuda, even after being warned the Japanese is employed to plan the invasion of China. He meets impoverished Russian noblewoman Sofia in bar where she works as a dancer and part-time prostitute. She supports her extended family financially but they take her for granted. And as the turmoil that will lead to the Second World War grows, the two begin a tentative relationship that brings both hope and despair.
Like many Merchant Ivory productions, "The WhiteCountess" is a richly detailed evocation of a bygone era. In Ismail Merchant's hands inter-war Shanghai comes to life, showing the decadence of the nightclubs available to only...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
very helpful 24.10.2006
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