Portrait of a Lady

The movie opens with a scene of nymphs in a forest, swaying from side to side û gorgeous cinematography, but irrelevant as far as the movie is concerned. The first we see of Isabel Archer (Nicole Kidman) she is sitting quietly with tears streaming down her face. Lord Warburton (Richard E Grant) has just proposed marriage. She cannot accept because her free will and sense of ôindependenceö wonÆt allow it. She tells her uncle she must experience life, so she travels to England where she confronts yet another suitor, an American who followed her there. He too desperately loves her. He too fails to win her heart.

Archer meets Madame Merle (Barbara Hershey) who befriends her. Meanwhile, the uncle dies leaving her a large inheritance, which Merle gets wind of. Merle visits penniless, sinister Osmond (John Malkovich) in Italy and plants a seed. She will introduce Archer to Osmond who will charm her into marriage. But, warns Merle, Archer is a ôcleverö girl. Osmond courts Archer, professes his love û she cries. ArcherÆs sickly cousin, who is also in love with her, cautions her against marriage to Osmond, but she wonÆt hear of it û she cries. Archer and Osmond marry and settle in Italy û only there does the plot thicken.

It all goes horribly wrong. Clever Archer discovers that Osmond is controlling and realises he only married her for her money - she cries. Several years go by and Archer learns that her sickly cousin is dying û she cries. She tells Osmond she is returning to England to see him, Osmond becomes angry û she cries. She goes anyway, sees her cousin, cries, the cousin dies, she cries, the American asks her not to return to Italy, she runs from him, the movie ends.

The problem with the movie is not the lack of plot, the sombre mood, the unnecessarily hushed tones, the languid dialogue, nor the fact that it just ends without any closure, but the fact that all the characters are insipid, especially Archer. Never have I seen a movie with so many unremarkable characters. Their blandness makes it impossible to feel any compassion for them û surely the book canÆt be that bad.

Portrait of a Lady lacks substance û it lacks passion. Archer was neither ôindependentö nor ôcleverö. She was nothing more than naive, marrying a man with no means and even less charisma. Her constant blubbering was irritating, to say the least, and only made her seem like a wimp. You never quite understand what her appeal is either, why so many men wanted her (even before her inheritance). Malkovich plays the same role he always does û need I elaborate? The rest of the characters are nondescript.

Portrait of a Lady is disappointing indeed. Sorry Jane Campion, this oneÆs a lemon.

Reviewed by Donatella Montrone