The story opens in 1925 as bacteriologist Walter Fane (Norton) travels deep into China with his clearly reluctant wife Kitty (Watts). Flash back a few years to London and their meeting, hurried courtship and married life in Shanghai, where the rather spoiled Kitty has a not-so-secret affair with a diplomat (Schreiber). Now it seems Walter is punishing her by dragging her into an isolated cholera epidemic, refusing to even look at her. But she begins to break him down simply by showing him who she really is--flawed and perhaps shallow but also worth holding onto.

Watts and Norton play these stifled Brits beautifully, layering in boredom and rage, passion and humour, and bravely refusing to make them terribly likeable. These aren't typical movie protagonists; they're complex, riveting, deeply identifiable people who seem determined to wound each other even as they yearn for a solid connection. This is one of Norton's least self-conscious performances in years, and one of Watts' most intricate roles. Their interaction is brittle, beautifully awkward and powerfully moving.

Curran films this with a light touch, even as the story takes in some fairly strong political overtones, with the locals rebelling against the British colonialists, adding the threat of physical violence to the interpersonal turmoil and the ever-present disease. Side characters bring this to life with warmth, colour and energy, from Schreiber's coolly attractive politician to Jones' crinkled Westerner-gone-native and Riggs' savvy French nun. And China itself plays a strong role in the story.

With evocative music, sharp editing and striking cinematography, the film is textured and sensual, as well as edgy and unpredictable. Although a heavy whiff of impending doom lingers from the start, we give in to the story and characters completely. Even when the story becomes a somewhat cynical look at the superficiality of what we call love, as opposed to the real thing. This is simply exquisite filmmaking.

themes, grisliness, some violence

31.Dec.06