(12A)
THE STARS: Naomi Watts, Edward Norton, Liev Schreiber, Toby Jones, Diana Rigg.
THE STORY: In the 1920s Walter (Norton), a middle-class English doctor, and his upper-class wife Kitty (Watts) are unhappily married and move to Shanghai, where she falls for a charming young diplomat (Schreiber).
When Walter finds out, he accepts a job in a remote Chinese village and makes sure she comes with him. Initially, she's so bored she volunteers to work at a local orhapnage run by nuns, led by Diana Rigg. Over time, though, she begins to appreciate her husband's kindness.
WHAT'S GOOD? This beautiful adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham's novel features refined and restrained performances by Naomi Watts and Edward Norton. Watts has hardly been on our screens since being romanced in King Kong, but here perfectly personifies the sadness and foolishness of the lonely Kitty. Equally, Norton's talents are ideally suited to the role of a repressed man struggling to to show his true emotions. Their characters' turmoils are played out against a stunning backdrop of 1920s China, with the film quite beautifully balancing the teeming masses of Shanghai with the tranquillity of the countryside.
WHAT'S BAD? While there's much to admire about Norton's performance, there is always something too unsympathetic about the characters he chooses to play to make them really enjoyable. Another niggle is Watts' totally unsuitable hairstyle.
HOW LONG IS IT?An absorbing 125 mins
FINAL VERDICT: This romantic drama is sheer class. A memorable and moving film.
Opens Friday, April 27
Rating: 4/5