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A Room With A View

Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham Carter)is a sheltered, longing for excitement, quick to speak her mind young lady who is traveling to Florence with her aunt/chaperone Charlotte Bartlett(Maggie Smith), who by all definitions is the uptight, cautious, and demure nervous nellie of the family.

To their disappointment, upon arrival they are not given a room with a view which they desired and were told they would receive.

At dinner, they meet a kind man Mr. Emerson (Denholm Elliott) and his son George (Julian Sands), a handsome, bold, and charmingly precocious gentleman. Through simple polite conversation, both are willing to change rooms to have the ladies' wishes met.

Charlotte, horrified at first by the brash openness of these two strange mens' proposal, turns them down.

After deliberating with their family friend Beebe (Simon Callow), who is also their Reverend, and also has been vacationing in Florence, the ladies take the gentlemen up on their offer.

Lucy, while taking in the historic buildings and charms of the city by herself, witnesses a bloody fight. Unable to gather herself, Lucy collapses only to be saved by George who just happened to be near her.

Now the scene has been set and emotions have started to kindle.

While picnicking and exploring the grounds, Lucy again meets George. A beautiful day where the sun is lemony-yellow, the air warm and sweet, and the peacefulness is the music around them.

Wham!

A most unexpected, sweep you off your feet kiss is planted on the lovely Lucy by that gent George who, with every ounce of his feelings for Lucy, went into that kiss. Unplanned, and most unheard of, especially since it is such a private act of expressing emotion in plain sight, George did so without asking the lady first!

But those were the times then, for a lady was to be a lady and not show such primal urges or accept them.

Gosh, how times have changed! Although I do admire the genteel and slower-paced lifestyle of that time, I respect the need for feelings and thoughts to be heard by all and for love to be real.

So speak up, speak clearly, and not be afraid, as these two lovebirds, Lucy and George have proceeded to do.

Passion! That is what Lucy and George have. Something so beautiful and wonderful, but will it be enough?

For Lucy is now engaged after returning to England to a stuffy, yawner of a man named Cecil Vyse (Daniel Day Lewis), who hardly knows Lucy exists, and is narrow-minded, bland to the affections of bewildered and romantic love, and so bookish, he hardly has time to realize he is engaged.

Some time has passed, and a wonderful opportunity has presented itself to George and his father in England. They rent a cottage nearby. George hears of Lucy's future nuptials and cannot stand for it.

As furiously passionate and free as Lucy is, will she settle for what is expected of her as a proper, dignified, well-bred woman, or will Lucy's heart lead her to a man who can only bring her more happiness than imaginable?

A cast of stellar performances bring this movie to life and make you believe they themselves have actually lived their roles.

Classic, beautiful, crisp, dapper, and rich with colored fabrics, style, and beauty are examples of these timeless costumes.

James Ivory's direction is that of an artist's soul where a world is created by the natural simple beauty of life itself. He is a master story teller, and this is an outstandingly beautiful film that shows its life in every possible light, angle, and moment.

Fields of soft swaying grass, horse-drawn carriage rides, a dip in a quiet pond, architecture that stands radiant like sunshine, and the sweet, magical bursts of rainshowers set the mood and location for this enchanting Edwardian film shot on location in Florence, Italy and England.

For die-hard romantics, period-piece enthusiasts, and for those who appreciate a gorgeous piece of film making where the story, acting, and everything in between is visual poetry, this breathtaking movie will have your heart soaring.

Written by: Lynda Dale MacLean

Reviewers Rating: 9
Reader's Rating: 8.25
Reader's Votes: 8

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