Besieged
Sunday, 06. December 2009. 02:46 by admin
- From acclaimed director Bernardo Bertolucci (The Last Emperor, Last Tango In Paris) comes a breathtaking film rich in passion, desire, and intrigue about a reclusive British pianist’s infatuation with an African exile housemaid.Running Time: 95 min. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: R Age: 794043485923 UPC: 794043485923 Manufacturer No: N4859
Product Description
From acclaimed director Bernardo Bertolucci (The Last Emperor Last Tango In Paris) comes a breathtaking film rich in passion desire and intrigue about a reclusive British pianist’s infatuation with an African exile housemaid.Running Time: 95 min.System Requirements: Running Time 95 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: R UPC: 794043485923Amazon.com
Two disparate worlds come together in thoroughly unexpected ways in this intriguing film directed by Academy Award winner Bernardo Bertolucci. The opening sequence, in an impoverished, unnamed African dictatorship, is painfully intense: we watch in horror as the movie’s heroine, Shandurai (serenely beautiful Thandie Newton), witnesses the brutal arre… More >>
December 6th, 2009 at 5:21 am
I could not help but to watch this film with all of my African American female sensibilities. Despite the proficient acting, cinematography and directing, I found the content highly offensive and trite. Mr. Kinksy claimed to love Shanduri and was willing to do anything to possess her affections. He was put off to find out that Shanduri was married, but not deterred. Shanduri gave him what she believed was an unattainable challenge to have her husband, who was arrested for speaking out against the government, freed from an African prison. I recognize that it is possible for a servant to fall in love with her employer, however I know that it is extremely rare. (Ask any black woman who’s cleaned a white person’s house, `how much love do you have for your boss.’ The relationship between Shanduri and Mr. Kinksy was one of abuse of power and emotional manipulation. During the `relationship’ that I watched develop, not once did Shanduri refer to her employer by his first name. Clearly indicating an uneven balance of power and control…not much different from a slave owner offering to free his children born to his African concubine. So, Mr. Kinksy gave up some of his prized possessions; it was European influence that created the climate that allowed Shanduri’s husband to be detained indefinitely. Though I am one among several with a different review about the film, I have no reason to forget the long history of abuse past and present that women of color experienced at the hands of white people, especially white men. To see such a film is an insult and another example of how Europeans do not understand the masses of African Americans.
Rating: 1 / 5
December 6th, 2009 at 6:17 am
The cinematography was beautiful and Thandie Newton was marvelous as always, but I hated the way the story droaned for too long on how Thewlis and Newton’s relationship was built and didn’t bother to focus enough on Newton’s character’s troubles. I felt cheated by the cliffhanger ending.
Rating: 3 / 5
December 6th, 2009 at 7:39 am
BESIEGED
Thandie Newton, David Thewlis, Claudio Santamaria, 1999
Synopsis
An young African woman attending medical school in Italy, works part time for an English pianist. She is astrayed from her husband, who was imprisoned back in her home country. Eventually, the Englishman falls in love with her and the two find themselves facing an impossible situation.
My Review
Zambian born actress Thandie Newton (Mission Impossible II) urinates, cries, drools, vomits, spits, sweats and lubricates her way to a unusual but standout role in this unique film. A haunting musical score takes you through an interesting, different type of film from acclaimed director Bernardo Bertolucci.
Rating: 4 / 5
December 6th, 2009 at 8:44 am
This story is basically about shandurai decided to stay with Mr kinsky after her husband is freed from jail for anti govt protest where he later try to find her by pressing the bell at the place where she worked for Kinsky due to her been thanksful to Mr Kinsky for helping her in her husband problems….recommended to those whom are interested in this genre of films.
Besieged
Written by:
Dr, MR Franc MBBS (PhD) GPS Ang Poon Kah
Director ‘lou ye’- Ang Poon Kah indication for film summer palace.
Rating: 4 / 5
December 6th, 2009 at 9:47 am
This is a story that uses music,gestures and expressions to show the character feelings.And i loved that.It tells the story of a girl(Thandie Newton)who gets a job in a house where lives a sensitive,lonely man(David Thewlis).He falls in love with her,but he doesn’t know that she’s married and her husband is in jail.She then realizes he’s struggling(even selling his precious piano!) to get her husband out of jail,just to please her I must confess that i did not like the ending though.It was too quickly,i wanted to see more of what happenned next,so hooked was i in the movie!well..let me forget that.If you like sensitive stories and,most of all,a good movie,you must see Besieged.4 and half stars.
Rating: 4 / 5