Name: Retro Film Review: The Wings of the Dove (1997)
Item: The Wings of the Dove
Rating: 70
Author: @drax

(source:tmdb.org)

Belle Époque is popular among creators of period dramas for one reason. On one hand, the world of late 19th and early 20th Century is in many details recognisable to modern audience, due to presence of items like cars, trains, telephones or newspapers. On the other hand, while not being completely alien, that world had social values so different from our own that even the most prosaic scenarios might look intriguing to present-day audience. One of the films to benefit from this dichotomy is The Wings of the Dove, 1997 period drama directed by Iain Softley.

Hossein Amini's script for this film was based on the classic novel by American author Henry James. The protagonist is Kate Moyer (played by Helena Bonham-Carter), young British woman whose mother had made mistake of marrying a man below her social class. Her father Lionel (played by Michael Gambon) is pathetic alcoholic and opium addict, obviously unable to support her. This service is provided by wealthy Aunt Maude (played by Charlotte Rampling), woman determined to bring her niece back to her proper class with marriage to aristocrat Lord Mark (played by Alex Jennings). But the history is about to repeat itself because Kate starts having relationship with physically attractive but penniless journalist Merton Densher (played by Linus Roache). Aunt Maude reacts to this liaison with ultimatum - Kate must leave her new lover or lose financial support. Solution to this problem comes in the form of Millie Theale (played by Allison Elliott), rich American heiress on the grand tour of Europe. Kate befriends unconventional American and finds her dark secret - she is mortally ill and craves for romance before dying. Since Merton just happens to look like the man of Millie's dreams, Kate decides to use sick woman's infatuation to secure financial future for Merton and herself.

Director Iain Softley for the most part abstained from the MTV style of filmmaking that had marked his previous work in Hackers. Softley's directing style is nevertheless dynamic and refreshing compared with cold and sometimes sterile period dramas of James Ivory. The most difficult task lied in front of scriptwriter - he had to compress hundreds of pages of Henry James' text into feature film and make it accessible to contemporary audience. He did it by setting the plot in 1910 and putting emphasis on the conflict between the old world embodied in European aristocracy, tradition and class system and the new world embodied by new technology and new morality. This is illustrated by sharp contrast between cold business-like London stuffed with the symbols of modernity and warm Venice that looks untouched by passing centuries.

The best thing about The Wings of the Dove is acting. Helena Bonham-Carter, who became something of specialist for the period dramas, again excels in difficult, complicated and demanding role. Kate Moyer is convincingly transformed from the girl in love into cold, manipulative and scruples woman. Bonham-Carter's partner Linus Roache in his role strikes perfect balance between masculine strength and moral weakness. Allison Elliott is also very good in a role of frail woman who refuses to become a victim.

Despite some flaws, including completely unnecessary sex scene, The Wings of the Dove is very good film that is going to be interesting even to those viewers who care little about classic literature.

RATING: 7/10 (+++)

(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.films.reviews on March 25th 2004)