The Governess
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Movie Reviews of The Governess
Movie Review: Minne Driver is simply stunning
Summary: 5 Stars
There is much to praise in this story of a Jewish girl who, suddenly impoverished, poses as a Christian in order to get a job as a governess so that she can earn money to support her family: there is a good script, there is good, tight direction, there is fine photography (apropos which, it would be nice if we could have the thing soon in Blu-ray), and there is good, solid work by the entire acting cast. I have been fascinated to notice the different things that different people appreciate about this film - none of them necessarily inappropriate. Thus on one level it is a film about power, particularly its use and abuse in relationships. On another it is about the absurdities of prejudice, especially religious prejudice. On another it is about the ability of the human spirit to survive and even grow in difficult circumstances, continuing to function even when surrounded by utter dysfunctionality. Yet essentially it is simply the story of a young woman, the governess. As such, it must finally stand or fall by her performance. It stands, magnificently. Minnie Driver is simply stunning: by turns funny, feisty, tender, sensual, inventive, and passionate, splendidly outrageous when she responds in kind to the prostitutes who tease her as "Jew girl"; comical when, in response to her mother's exhortation to look less tall, she scuttles away with head ludicrously and ostentatiously bowed; deeply touching when, alone, she celebrates Pesach as best she can, and taking the Beitzah, recalls happier celebrations of the Seder with her family - I have seen few scenes in any movie more simply poignant than this; and magnificent when, having endured patiently her lover's failure to live up to her passion (arguably, a sin of weakness) she finally becomes angry with him when he refuses to give her any credit for her contribution -- indeed, her crucial contribution -- to his scientific work (a sin of strength, and mean-minded). Driver's facial expressions during this scene of betrayal - in which she has virtually no lines - are alone a lesson for every aspiring actor. And with how appropriate a demeanor she takes her final, gentle but entirely fitting, revenge! If you enjoy a good film about people, with a satisfying ending, this is not one to miss.Movie Review: A Visually Pleasing Film
Summary: 5 Stars
Directed by Sandra Goldbacher and filmed by Ashley Rowe, "The Governess" is a beautiful film to watch and appropriately so since it has to do with the character Charles Cavendish's (Tom Wilkinson) dabbling in photographic experiments. He is attempting to create a fixation process for photographs. Many of the shots are seen through the view-finder of a large format camera. There are also wonderful scenes from the beaches of Scotland as well.
Minnie Driver is a Jewess who passes herself off as a Gentile (Mary Blackchurch) in order to get the position of a governess for a Scottish family in the mid-ninteenth century. In that position she manages to tame an obnoxious child and break the heart of her employer (Wilkinson) along with the heart of his son as well.
Ms. Goldbacher's credentials as a feminist shine through in this at times very passionate film where Driver eventually has all the face cards in her hand.
This film is well worth seeing for both Driver's performance and the fine photography.
Movie Review: Great film with a great cast!...
Summary: 5 Stars
I wasn't sure what to expect from this film upon my first viewing, but I was won over instantly by the great story, beautiful photography and the amazing cast. Minnie Driver was perfectly cast in the role of Mary Blackchurch and her performance was most certainly worthy of an Oscar nomination. In fact, I have always felt that Minnie has never really been given the attention she deserves and her talents have been mostly underrated. I would love to see much more of her! The same can be said for Tom Wilkenson, who's acting is always first rate. As for the supporting roles, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers was quite excellent in what I believe is one of his earlier roles, and last, but certainly not least, Florence Hoath always delivers a stand out performance. Overall, this film is a wonderful period piece with a great look to it that will pull you in and keep you there until the very end. Beautifully done!Movie Review: Beautiful
Summary: 5 Stars
I have to say that this film is one of my favorites. Starring Minnie Driver as a enchanting Jewish girl who, through unforeseeable circumstances, has to leave the only home she's ever known in London, her grieving mother, best friend/sister, and the man she's has every intention on marrying, to become a Governess (hence the title)for an affluent family in Scotland to help support her family.
While there, she has to manage a bratty yet lonely young girl, find a way to tolerate a snobby, puckered posterior mistress, fight off the advances of the expelled pubescent and gorgeous young master, and assist the master of the house in his work to find the chemical to stabilize photographed images, all while hiding the fact she is Jewish.
Moments of the movie are suspended like a pulchritudinous photograph. Great story, wonderful acting, and plenty of eye candy.
Movie Review: A lesson well learnt
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is made predominantly by women, and it really shows in the way the issues of a young woman's emerging sensuality and sexual curiousity are dealt with. The scripts are realistic and the photography is stunning. In addition, the film vividly contrasts, using language, clothes and scenery, the austere and cold Protestant Christianity of those times against the richness and warmth of the equivalent Jewish culture.
One of the other themes in the movie is the way women's contributions to emerging sciences was often unrecognised due to the inferior social and professional positions of women in Europe and Britian during the Scientific and Industrial Revolutions.
There are so many levels to this movie, which makes it one of those movies you can watch over and over and over......