THE PAINTED VEIL

Director: John Curran
Cast: Edward Norton, Naomi Watts, Liev Schreiber, Sally Hawkins, Toby Jones, Diana Rigg
Run Time: 100 minutes
Country: USA
Year: 2006
Language: English, Mandarin with English subtitles
Rating: PG (Sexually suggestive scene, nudity)

Director John Curran’s acclaimed WE DON’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE displayed a propensity for adapting complex moral stories to the big screen while respecting the source material, the integrity of the characters and the demands of good cinema. His latest film, THE PAINTED VEIL, further confirms his skill for adapting great literature and for drawing nuanced performances from a stellar cast.

Based on the novel of the same name by W. Somerset Maugham, THE PAINTED VEIL is the story of Walter (Edward Norton, FIGHT CLUB, THE ITALIAN JOB), a bacteriologist, and his wife, Kitty (Naomi Watts, I HEART HUCKABEES, KING KONG). When Walter is absorbed in his research, Kitty feels abandoned and has an affair with a local playboy (Liev Schreiber, THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED). When he discovers her infidelity, Walter takes Kitty to a remote Chinese village, where they undertake to fight a cholera outbreak. Witnessing her husband’s dedication to his work and finding fulfillment in her own efforts to stem the disease, Kitty experiences a spiritual awakening and finds new love for her husband.

Watts has big shoes to fill here – an earlier version of the film, made in 1934, starred none other than Greta Garbo. But Watts delivers in spades, giving a brilliant, moving performance as a woman on a spiritual journey who rediscovers the meaning of love and respect. Norton displays the focused intensity we have come to expect, while Schreiber is compelling and charming as the cunning playboy. THE PAINTED VEIL is a moving cinematic experience that will not soon be forgotten.