Believing is Seeing

I was going to let Mikey lead the charge on this film, since he had such an uncharacteristically, 100% positive reaction to it, but he's been a little shy here on The Balcony, so let me just quickly recommend "The White Countess." Merchant-Ivory's final film is sublime, mournful and downright gorgeous. It's a film that works unhurriedly toward its climax, and gives its characters the time they need to unfold against the volatile backdrop of pre-WWII Shanghai.

There are many reasons I enjoyed this film so much: Kazuo Ishiguro, the screenwriter, is one of my favorite novelists, and as he has demonstrated so brilliantly in "The Remains of the Day" and "When We Were Orphans," he has a deep sensitivity for characters whose lives are disrupted by the violence - both physical and emotional - of war. And of course, Ralph. By now you have probably picked up on my heavy pro-Ralph bias, but until my sister finds the time to join our blog, I am leading the charge. Between this film and "The Constant Gardener," Ralph has broken my heart several times this year. (And cracked me up in "Wallace and Gromit.") But Ralph has met his equal in Natasha Richardson, who is luminous and splendid as the displaced countess. Don't be fooled by the promos for this film: it is a subtle, under-stated love story that moves in ways you might not expect.