The film was released in the US on Labor Day weekend 2005, and due to an extended absence from my home, I missed this outstanding film then. Afterwards, from the title, it sounded to me like a film about horticulture. I saw it for the first time today, after checking the reviews. Roger Ebert said it was one of the best films of 2005, gave it 4/4 stars. So I decided to see if he was right. And indeed, he was.
I won't discuss the plot at all--any viewer should discover it as it unfolds, as I did. I am glad I did not know much more than the basic theme. The story was told flawlessly--without cutting corners, without easy shortcuts. This film could not have been made on a studio back lot--it had to be filmed on location, as indeed it was. Among its many other graces, the acting was superb from everyone. Rachel Weisz won a deserved Oscar for her performance, but I thought that Ralph Fiennes was just as good. A particularly good performance in a key role was Pete Postlethwaite.
Having missed it the first time around, I saw this film almost by accident. I am so glad I did. It has so much to offer.
I won't discuss the plot at all--any viewer should discover it as it unfolds, as I did. I am glad I did not know much more than the basic theme. The story was told flawlessly--without cutting corners, without easy shortcuts. This film could not have been made on a studio back lot--it had to be filmed on location, as indeed it was. Among its many other graces, the acting was superb from everyone. Rachel Weisz won a deserved Oscar for her performance, but I thought that Ralph Fiennes was just as good. A particularly good performance in a key role was Pete Postlethwaite.
Having missed it the first time around, I saw this film almost by accident. I am so glad I did. It has so much to offer.