Film Review: The White Countess

Posted by admin on Mar 8, 2006 in Volume 14 Issue 1 | 0 comments

It’s sad to think that most people will never see this movie. Why? Simply because most people would rather see mindless romps like Final Destination 3 and the moronic When a Stranger Calls than watch something that’s truly a work of art. With that actuality aside, The White Countess is definitely the classiest film I’ve seen in some time. It takes place in Shanghai during the late 1930’s and focuses on a former American diplomat’s (Ralph Fiennes) quest to create the perfect nightclub. Due to an accident associated with war violence, he’s blind, and he’s grown tired and bitter with the political nonsense in China. The diplomat finds himself looking through various slums around the city for evidence of what Shanghai nightclubs lack. After stumbling upon some good fortune, he opens up a nightclub in Shanghai that is everything he imagined. With his so-called centerpiece being the Russian countess, Sophia (Natasha Richardson) his club becomes wildly popular. Conflict is introduced when a man named Matsuda uses Jackson to plot a Japanese invasion of Shanghai, and soon Jackson also finds himself embroiled in the tension of his feelings for Countess Sophia. The charm and glamour that this film exudes is truly remarkable, almost every bit of dialogue is well thought-out and powerful. Watching Fiennes play a blind man with such eloquence is touching. Richardson also does an incredible job in her role as a struggling countess; she uses a nearly perfect Russian accent. After seeing this movie I was honestly delighted and surprised with how enjoyable it was. Though there are a few daft slow spots, they hardly take away from its excellence. My overall favorite aspect of the story is that it is far removed from any wishy-washiness and delivers realism and precision. If this is playing near you, take a step away from the weekend blockbusters and devote some time to this sharply impressive film.