Review of A Room with a View (1986) by Stuart K — 08 May 2012
Even though producer Ismail Merchant and director James Ivory had a modus operandi of making English language films set in India. By the 1980's, they cast the net wider, and made films in other countries, and they made this adaptation of E.
M Forster's 1908 book. This was the one that put them on the mainstream map, whose critical acclaim resulted in winning Oscars, Baftas and Golden Globes. It begins in turn of the century Florence where Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham Carter) is on holiday with her older cousin Charlotte Bartlett (Maggie Smith).
While on the holiday, they meet Mr. Emerson (Denholm Elliot) and his son George (Julian Sands), and they have a romance while in Florence. When the holiday is over, Lucy and Charlotte return to Surrey, where Lucy ends up accepting a marriage proposal from Cecil Vyse (Daniel Day-Lewis).
However, matters are complicated when the Emerson's buy a nearby cottage, and Lucy finds old emotions coming back, and she has to make a drastic decision, made even more complicated by the fact that George and Cecil have already become friends.
It's a very well made period drama, with some laugh out loud moments, (the naked dip scene being an eyeopener.) But, it has a brilliant cast, also including Simon Callow, Rupert Graves and Judi Dench.
English period dramas always come out well on screen so long as they have a good story and good performances, and this delivers that in spades.
This review of A Room with a View (1986) was written by Stuart K on 08 May 2012.
A Room with a View has generally received very positive reviews.
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