The House of Mirth
The House of Mirth

The House of Mirth

2000Movie135 minEnglish

In early 20th century New York City, an impoverished socialite desperately seeks a suitable husband as she gradually finds herself betrayed by her friends and exiled from high society.

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IMDb7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes74%
Metacritic76/100
Google Users78%
Director: Terence DaviesGenres: Drama

Plot Summary

Lily Bart is a beautiful but impoverished socialite in 1905 New York, desperately trying to secure a wealthy husband to maintain her lavish lifestyle. She navigates a complex web of social expectations, rumors, and her own desires, leading her down a path of increasing isolation and despair as her reputation unravels.

Critical Reception

The film received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised Gillian Anderson's performance and Davies's atmospheric direction, though some found the pacing slow. It was particularly noted for its faithful adaptation of Edith Wharton's novel and its poignant portrayal of societal pressures.

What Reviewers Say

  • Gillian Anderson delivers a career-defining performance as the tragic Lily Bart.
  • Terence Davies masterfully captures the opulent yet suffocating world of early 20th-century New York society.
  • The film is a faithful and moving adaptation, though some critics found it to be overly somber and slow-paced.

Google audience: Viewers lauded Gillian Anderson's portrayal of Lily Bart and appreciated the film's faithfulness to the source material. Many felt it was a beautiful and melancholic drama that effectively depicted the societal constraints of the era.

Fun Fact

Gillian Anderson's performance as Lily Bart was highly acclaimed, and it is often cited as one of her most memorable roles outside of 'The X-Files'.

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TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

“Lily” is a smart, charismatic and charming socialite who frequents the best houses in New York as the twentieth century beckons. She is not, however, a wealthy woman. She has a small annuity and is largely dependent on income from her aunt...