"The Painted Veil"

Yesterday I watched the movie “The Painted Veil”. It’s based on a novel by the same name by Somerset Maugham (once described as the best second rate British author – because he is extremely readable but you don’t feel you’re reading trash because his writing has enough depth to keep you thinking.. ha ha). And I think the same could be said of the movie – it is light enough and not an you-have-to-be-focused-or-you’ll-miss-the-plot kind of movie (think ‘Syriana’) or epic and large like “The Lord of the Rings’ movies. But still intelligent and nuanced enough to make it the kind of movie you can talk about with people (you know, without prefacing your discussion with “I don’t know WHY I went to watch the movie, but… just to save face and keep people from writing you off as an idiot :)

Well, I enjoyed the movie. There – I’ve said it. I think it’s the most nuanced movie I’ve seen in a while (sigh… may be, because all that I get to see are Tamil movies on tv on Saturday nights… sad life). What was interesting was the complexity of emotions, the layered characterisation and oh, the gorgeous cinematography! But portrayal of tensions within the main characters (Naomi Watts & Edward Norton) was really interesting, especially the way their relationship actually develops in the reverse, from enmity, anger and disappointment in the initial stages of the marriage to slow growth of appreciation of the other, acceptance and love. The historical and political turmoil of China against which the story is set, is an interesting angle as well and China comes across not just as the setting for the story but a real place with real issues and contributing to the bewilderment, isolation and final acceptance felt by the characters as well.

The movie got me thinking. It made me realise again that behind every human mistake there is a story of weakness and need. That human beings are complex. And people are capable of much more sacrifice, love and forgiveness than we think possible. Hmmm... I wonder what the title means...