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Friday, April 5, 2013

The Painted Veil, or how good can a movie be?

[Movie Review: The Painted Veil]

I know I've watched a special movie when I wake up in the middle of the night reliving some of it's scenes, thinking about the characters, and what it all means?

The Painted Veil is a deep movie: deep on an emotional level. The entire time I watched it, I was engaged in the characters, and how these two pretty ordinary people (Dr. Walter Fane and his wife, Kitty) became involved in a dangerous event. The tension between them is riveting, the outcome undecided until the very end. The ending of the movie was not surprising, although a bit ironic and, in some ways, satisfying. But everything before it was extraordinary.

This is not the kind of movie one wants to see; it's the kind one wants to live.


10 comments:

Optimistic Existentialist said...

It's really something when a movie can have this kind of effect on us. Cloud Atlas had that effect on me a few months ago...

Julia Hones said...

I am familiar with the novel. A friend told me about it. It is by Somerset Maugham, isn't it? I read many short stories by Maugham and Of Human Bondage, but not this one.


















Talli Roland said...

This movie has been on my list for ages! You may have just inspired me to watch it.

Anonymous said...

Oooh. Didn't know this is a movie. Thanks! I must watch it. I read the book recently, and it's awesome. One of the all-time greats, and one of the all-time great authors. BTW, loved your last collection of stories. Great writing as always. When life slows down, and I finish a second memoir, novella length, that I'm finally managing to write, I WILL catch up on book reviews. Know that your collection is at the top of my to-do list!

writing and living by Richard P Hughes said...

O.E. I'll have to watch Cloud Atlas.

Julia, yes, it's based on one of his novels.

Talli, you inspire me with your wit and optimism.

Ann, Thank you for your comments on my stories. We're all so busy, you more so than most. I'd like to read the book sometime soon.

Tanya Reimer said...

Great review! Sounds incredible.

Elizabeth Varadan, Author said...

The kind of movie one wants to live! Now I want to see the movie AND read the book. It sounds like a great story.

writing and living by Richard P Hughes said...

Hi, Tanya, hope your Florida vacation is going or went well.

Elizabeth, the movie affected me like no other. Now, I want to read the book too.

Rachna Chhabria said...

I like what you said " the kind of movie I want to live." Now, I am super eager to see this movie.

Donna K. Weaver said...

I've never heard of it. I'll have to check it out.