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The Governess
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by Sony Pictures
Sales Rank: 28365
Price: $21.96
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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. <I>--Tom Keogh</I>
Viewer Reviews
There were several favorable reviews from fellow Amazonians regarding THE GOVERNESS, and it was recommended by the dear hearts at Amazon, so I took a shot in the dark on this one.
The lushness of the Isle of Skye is absolutely breathtaking (great direction w/the sweeping camera shots), while you can feel the grittiness and urban setting of Victorian London (the "ladies of the night" egging Rosina on is a particularly standout moment). Minnie Driver's portrayal of Rosina da Silva is fragile, yet strong, curious, yet introverted when it comes to opening up to her charge, Clementina. She only seems to "blossom" fully when the master of the house Mr. Cavendish begins to lavish a *ahem* special attention upon her.
The viewer never really understands WHY Rosina is so enthralled with a man who is distant, self-serving, and cold, cold, cold as a popsicle in a blizzard. She spurns the handsome, interesting son of the home (the always dashing Jonathan Rhys Meyers-who is NOT showcased properly) for a man old enough to be her father. Perhaps it's the ever-present "turning to a man for lack of daddy's love" theory rearing its head.
3-star effort for cinematography, the bits and pieces of JRM, and the fascinatingly morbid Clementina ("I dreamed little baby Jesus made me eat all of the chocolate or else He'd cut off my legs!").
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The Governess
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