The Painted Veil
The Painted Veil

The Painted Veil

2006Movie125 minEnglish

A British medical doctor fights a cholera outbreak in a small Chinese village, while also being trapped at home in a loveless marriage to an unfaithful wife.

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Insights

IMDb6.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes60%
Metacritic60/100
Google Users77%
Director: John CurranGenres: Drama, Romance

Plot Summary

In 1920s Shanghai, Kitty, a spirited Englishwoman, marries Walter, a bacteriologist, primarily to escape her unsatisfying life. When she engages in an affair, Walter discovers it and, in a fit of despair and a desire for control, insists they move to a remote, plague-ridden village in China. There, amidst hardship and isolation, they confront their past mistakes and begin to forge a tentative new understanding.

Critical Reception

The Painted Veil received generally positive reviews, with many critics praising its lush cinematography, strong performances from its lead actors, and emotional depth, though some found the pacing slow.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its visually stunning cinematography and evocative score.
  • Naomi Watts and Edward Norton deliver compelling performances as a couple navigating marital strife and personal growth.
  • The film's exploration of themes like love, betrayal, and redemption is appreciated, though some found the narrative to be predictable.

Google audience: Google users generally appreciated the film's beautiful visuals and the emotional performances of the lead actors, finding it to be a moving and romantic drama. Some viewers felt the plot was somewhat conventional but still enjoyed the overall experience.

Awards & Accolades

Won the Satellite Award for Best Original Score.

Fun Fact

The film was shot on location in China, and the production faced challenges due to the remote and harsh conditions in some of the filming areas.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
badelf

badelf

I enjoyed this film a good more than I expected I would, based on the poor critical response and so-so viewer scores. Fortunately, Norton and Watts saved the film by turning in phenomenal performances. The real problem is that we never get ...
Peter McGinn

Peter McGinn

This movie seemed vaguely familiar to my wife like we had seen it before, but it all seemed new to me when we recently watched it. We both enjoyed it. I wasn’t concerned when a few reviews remarked that it moved slowly, as we have always ap...