The Painted Veil.... What is the meaning behind this title? Not one that just comes to mind but thought provoking. A bitter love inspired movie starring Edward Norton
as Dr.Walter Fane, Naomi Watts as his wife, Kitty, and *Liev
Schreiber as the ominous CharlieTownsend set in China and London
in the 1920’s. Perhaps the title comes from the bridal veil that is not white
and not yet defined by color. One thought that remains through to the end of
the film…
Kitty lives a middle
class life of prominence but nearing her time to married to the first suitor
who is accepted by her Father; Just the perfect man, a bacteriologist who is
immediately in love with Kitty and takes her away to Shang-hi where they live a
life of deceit. With no chemistry or love between Walter and Kitty, Charlie, a
debonair politician and society man have an affair. Walter inevitably finds out
and he threatens Kitty that either she move with him to a far off camp
ill-stricken by Cholera disease or he will divorce her on the grounds of
adultery. This would not be socially acceptable in London. Kitty has few
options. She tests Charlie and tells him that “Walter knows….and will let her
divorce him quietly if Charlie’s wife, Dorothy will divorce him and Charlie is
to then marry her…” Of course, Charlie, will not come out with their affair and
tells Kitty No. Kitty then decides to go on with Walter, the man she does not
love, while longing for the man that she believes wants her.
After some time in the Cholera infected
village, Kitty and Walter find themselves deeply in love and passionately begin
to share their lives together completely. What world the two live in is both
complex and simple. Hatred, Resentment Loss, Virtue, Compassion, Forgiveness
and Clarity are some of the threads that tie this bittersweet epic story
together.
Naomi Watts and *Edward
Norton* are two hosts for characters that capture each other and the viewer
with every breath. As always, Norton captures a very banal, complex character
in the Doctor, from his pitiful actions of a proper Englishman to that of a
prominent and capable member of the ill stricken village. His earlier portrayal
of a man scorned and his impetuousness makes us dispise him. He is repellant and
pitiful and we sympathize with Kitty who has to live with him. He later appears
as a caring, passionate man and we anticipate the impending affair he will have
with his wife. Once again, he is the master of “Two Sides of a Coin.” Watts portrays her role as
a strong yet soul-searching woman who is truly the product of her environment,
a proper lady with a shallow life, up to the end of the film where she displays
such sincerity, strength and growth.
Supporting roles by: Schreiber as the
Other Man, cunning and womanizing tricking us into thinking he is sincere and Waddington,
a refreshing Englishman, portrayed by Tobey Jones were strong and perfectly
cast. Watching him in The Painted Veil
reminded me of what a gifted actor he is and how different this role was
versus the flamboyant Truman Capote.
The
cinematography and direction (John Curran) were exceptional with breathtaking
vistas and urban China. Every scenic shot gave us an artistic point of view.
The acting wa just the details painted atop a brilliant and inspiring canvas, accentuating with haunting drama by Lang Lang, one of the most brilliant pianists of our time.
Produced by both Norton and Watts, this proved to be a magical combination and
a movie that was very underrated. You really can’t go wrong with any Norton
movie. I don’t know what took me so long to see this one. I suggest you don’t wait
as long as I did. This is a five star movie!