The Painted Veil

The Painted Veil ***

"The Painted Veil" is an old fashioned love story-a somewhat predictable one at that-but one acted beautifully by its stars Naomi Watts and Edward Norton. It's hard to believe that they've never acted with each other before, because their chemistry makes them seem as if they have been acting together, or even have known each other, for years. Being a period piece, it's quite easy to go somewhat over the top, but they even seem very comfortable in their roles. At times you forget that your watching a movie, because you get sucked into what is happening. It may not be a perfect film, and like I said it is somewhat predictable, but these performances are worth the trip out, and "The Painted Veil" is sure to be an under the radar hit that will be heard about in the future.

Norton and Watts play Walter and Kitty Fane, a married couple where both sides do not seem to be actively participating. Walter asked Kitty to marry him when they hardly knew each other, but Kitty saw Walter as good natured, and also saw him as a way to shut her mother up, so she decided to marry now, and hopefully fall in love later. In the beginning she seems happy to be with him-and he obviously does love her very much. But that doesn't stop her from drifting now and again, and she soon begins an affair with the respected Charlie. The affair goes on, with them both thinking that Walter knows nothing when he does know everything, and he signs up for a trip to the Far East, where he could use his doctor skills to aid in the cholera epidemic. Kitty ends up going with him, and to make things a little worse Walter makes them take the long way, which gets them to their destination a few weeks later. Walter meets the fellow room mate in the area, Waddington, who informs them that the country is is turmoil. If they survive the cholera they might end up being killed by nationalists. Walter begins his work there, while Kitty ends up changing her mind on a lot of things. Raised rich she is shocked by the horrors that these people have to live with, and she even gets to the point where she volunteers in the hospital. And then something incredible happens-Kitty begins to see in Walter what she should have years and years ago-that he is really a good man, and perhaps their marriage can be saved after all.

"The Painted Veil" is not just the story of a failing marriage, but also a journey of self-discovery. It's quite clear that Kitty is the main character in this story, and it is about a woman who beings to find herself. The marriage is more of the backbone that thrusts her into this realization. The script is written very well, and with intelligence. Watts and Norton deliver their lines with perfection, and the scenes where it is just them too are some of the best you'll see of late. The cinematography is gorgeous, but how can it not be considering where it was filmed. Living in the big city you sometimes forget how beautiful the woods and wild life can be. "The Painted Veil" also doesn't get too showy about the fact that it is a period piece. There are no lavish set designs and ridiculous costumes-this is not "Marie Antoinette." This focuses more on the character and not on the way it looks, which is certainly a good move on the film makers behalves. This is just a good film-not much bad about it, the music is delightful, its acted well by the entire cast, and it's a nice story with some great characters. Skeptics about period pieces should give it a shot anyway. It's a very moving and sweet film.