Title:
Portrait of a Lady, The
Released: 1996
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 142 min
Country: UK /
USA
Language: English
/ Italian
Plot
Summary: Isabel Archer, an American heiress
and free thinker travels to Europe to find herself.
She tactfully rebuffs the advances of Caspar Goodwood,
another American who has followed her to England.
Her cousin, Ralph Touchett, wise but sickly becomes
a soulmate of sorts for her. She makes an unfortunate
alliance with the creepy Madame Merle who leads her
to make an even more unfortunate alliance with Gilbert
Osmond, a smooth but cold collector of Objets' de
art who seduces her with an intense but unattainable
sexuality. Isabel marries Osmond only to realize she's
just another piece of art for his collection and that
Madame Merle and Osmond are lovers who had hatched
a diabolical scheme to take Isabel's fortune. Isabel's
only comfort is the innocent daughter of Osmond, Pansy,
but even that friendship is spoiled when Merle reveals
the child's true parentage. Isabel finally breaks
free of Osmond and returns to Ralph's bedside, where,
while breathing his last, they both realize how truly
connected they are, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Comments:
A
brilliant adaptation. This movie makes me bawl, every
time I see it. Beautifully filmed, an exquisite rendering
of one woman's gradual entrapment by the world of
men and nineteenth-century social constraints. The
drama unfolds slowly, but masterfully, building to
one of the best endings I've ever seen. Nicole Kidman
is excellent, and Martin Donovan is a god.
Cast
overview:
Nicole Kidman .... Isabel Archer
John Malkovich .... Gilbert Osmond
Barbara Hershey .... Madame Serena Merle
Mary-Louise Parker .... Henrietta Stackpole
Martin Donovan .... Ralph Touchett
Shelley Winters .... Mrs. Touchett
Richard E. Grant .... Lord Warburton
Shelley Duvall .... Countess Gemini
Christian Bale .... Edward Rosier
Viggo Mortensen .... Caspar Goodwood
Valentina Cervi .... Pansy Osmond
John Gielgud .... Mr. Touchett
Roger Ashton-Griffiths .... Bob Bantling
Catherine Zago .... Mother Superior
Alessandra Vanzi .... Nun #2
Movie
scenes preview:
Scene #1
featured
actress:
