The Governess
by Sandra Goldbacher
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Bruce Myers, Florence Hoath, Harriet Walter, Minnie Driver, Tom WilkinsonDirector: Sandra Goldbacher
Cinematographer: Ashley Rowe
Writer: Sandra Goldbacher
Editor: Isabelle Lorente
Producer: Cathy Lord
Producer: Sally Hibbin
Producer: Sarah Curtis
DVD: 2 Sides, Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; French (Subtitled)
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen, 1.33:1
Running Time: 115 minutes
DVD Release Date: 1999-02-16
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures
Movie Reviews of The Governess
Movie Review: Beautifully shot, yet lacking in insights
Summary: 3 Stars
"The Governess" has Minnie Driver playing a feisty Sephardic Jewess in 1840s London whose diminished circumstances compels her to seek out a position as Governess with a well-heeled family in Scotland. She assumes the false identity of Gentile Mary Blackchurch and has to deal with a very dysfunctional family - there's the man of the house played by Tom Wilkinson, his haughty and whiny wife, a morbid young daughter Clementine, and the teenage never-do-well rebellious son [played by Jonathan Rhys-Meyers].
Soon, a close bond develops between Rosina and the master of the house, and results in an affair. Whilst indulging in each other, Rosina takes the opportunity to master the finer points of the art of photography, which was in its developmental stages at the time. The rebellious son meanwhile becomes hopelessly infatuated with Rosina, even more so after he discovers her true identity as he is drawn to her 'differences'. There's lots of emotional drama that ensues and Rosina struggles to find her place in the world.
The strength of the movie lies in the camerawork. The cinematography of the Scottish coastline is beautiful as is the portrayal of the photography lessons. But most striking of all for me was the hypnotizing and beautifully shot scenes of the Jewish rituals that seemed almost magical and surreal.
What I felt was lacking though was true insights into the characters - the Gentile family that Rosina works for is portrayed as dysfunctional, but there is no credible explanation or exploration as to why this is so. The viewer is supposed to just accept this as a fact.As for Rosina, though her character was well-portrayed by Minnie Driver, I felt there was no deep insight into the conflict between her close affinity for Judaism vs the stressful situation engendered by her assuming a false Gentile identity. What did seem genuine was Rosina/Mary's true affection for Tom Wilkinson's character. Minnie Driver does have expressive eyes and she uses this to great effect. Tom Wilkinson's character was also credibly drawn, though I didn't think the full frontal nude scenes were necessary [both him and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers].
On the whole, I did like this movie from an aesthetic point of view, though it could have done with more insightful characterization.
Summary of The Governess
Minnie Driver stars as an impoverished Jewish woman, Mary, living in an emphatically anti-Semitic England in the mid-19th century. Following the murder of her beloved father--who leaves his survivors strapped with his debts--she camouflages her identity as a Protestant of Italian descent and takes a job as governess to an unorthodox Scottish family. In this film by Sandra Goldbacher, sundry conventions from Victorian novels mix with a contemporary, feminist take on Mary's subsequent adventures. Mary asserts, with some effort, her authority over her willful charge (Florence Hoath); she dodges the insults of a vaguely ghoulish matriarch (Harriet Walter); and she becomes an aide, confidante, and lover to the man of the house (Tom Wilkinson), a naturalist dabbling with early experiments in photography. Goldbacher fails to make it all feel as fully realized as it could be (much of the detail and soul of Mary's life in London is too telescoped and impressionistic to sink in). But the film's middle section, in which the heroine's complicity with Wilkinson's married character engages her keen intelligence as well as her untapped sensuality, is deeply felt. It's nice to see Driver prove she can carry a film, though the dreamy, exotic photography by Ashley Rowe certainly pulls a viewer along as well. --Tom KeoghArt House & International DVD Video
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