The Painted Veil
Shunned by a husband (Edward Norton) who's more interested in his research, the simpleminded Kitty Fane (Naomi Watts) embarks on a quest for life fulfillment. Along the way, she ignites a passionate affair with a dashing womanizer (Liev Schreiber) and travels with her husband to the Far East, where she turns her attention to fighting the cholera epidemic. Diana Rigg co-stars in this period drama based on the novel by W. Somerset Maugham.
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» Reviewed by 4 people
A haunting tale of love unrequited but eventually discovered against the backdrop of natural beauty and human tragedy. Edward Norton is a bookish British microbiologist absorbed in his work -- now _that's_ acting! -- who proposes marriage to Naomi Watts the day after meeting her at a high-society party because he must return to his research station in Shanghai. They don't love each other, and he comes to hate her after she commences an affair with a career diplomat who (she later learns) makes a habit of loving and leaving "second-rate" Englishwomen. Her husband then volunteers himself (and his cloistered wife) to fight a deadly cholera outbreak in backwater China. While no Mother Theresa, she wrestles with her feelings of compassion and inadequacy before committing to assist a convent-ion of nuns in their school and hospice care of a passel of orphans. Over time, the couple comes to a rapprochement over their prior expectations for each other -- more than a detente and eventually a sincere (if tragic) love. The movie strays from the book at a number of points but holds well together. If you liked Sommersby or Sweet Land then The Painted Veil should please you well. 5 stars.- robowriter
I have seen this movie now three times and I would see it again and again. Not only am I a great Edward Norton fan (for some reason, he has always reminded me of my eldest twin son, Todd, who is 36). This story is riveting from the very beginning; a 1920's period piece that begins and ends in London, but the majority of the film is set in a village in the hot, humid interior of China. I loved every minute of it. It somehow carries you away. Edward Norton's character is so noble, despite his challenges and you admire him for it. Naomi Watts' character is unsympathetic, yet at some point, you begin to empathize with her plight. This is a wonderful love story that unfolds slowly, but is worth every minute of the wait. It also carries a message about giving of yourself. Lovely story with excellent actors and beautiful scenery! This is one of my all-time favorites!
- Southern Belle 1
I feel as though this movie missed the mark. It's certainly not a bad film, but I wouldn't say it's a great film either. I sensed no chemistry between Watts and Norton, which is disappointing because I really like them both. Of course there's supposed to be great tension and resentment between the two characters, but there still needs to be a certain underlying chemistry, which just wasn't there. Obviously the scenery is absolutely gorgeous, but that really shouldn't be the very best thing in any movie. Should it? Meanwhile, it's a very ploding story which never seems to amp up at all. It just plods along. I really have to put this into that undefined, in-between zone of sort of liked/sort of didn't like.
- Photo Heathen
I'll admit upfront that romantic movies aren't really my thing. What I found most wonderful about this film was the look into the culture and history of the Chinese, and the absolutely gorgeous landscapes. The main character's love story and their privledged life among so much poverty really rubbed me the wrong way. Didn't like the "great white savior" attitude of the doctor, or his attitude towards his wife. Also, while I understand the limitations of the time, I was turned off by the doctor's proposal and his solution. Why he would put himself and his wife in harm's way and not take the necessary precautions for protection just made him seem stupid to me. Good, perhaps, for the dramatic ending to the story, but I thought he was supposed to be so intelligent and this rang so false to me. I did enjoy the bureaucrat character, though, and the authenticity he bought to the story.
- VJ Purplequeen