Review of The Painted Veil (2006) by Jon C — 07 Mar 2013

An emotionally turmoiling epic about first encounters, romance, matrimony, dissolving and finally redeeming yourself.

Edward Norton and Naomi Watts have phenomenal peformances about two people who marry each other on the spot and to get away from their families and end up testing their relationship as hard as they can.

Kitty is unhappy when Walter forces her to come with her to China or else he will divorce her on adultery grounds with Charlie.

The rest of the movie after the flashbacks showing why they are unhappy unfolds beautifully with all of the sweeping emotions on this roller coaster.

Walter struggles to make life better for the citizens he's helping in an epidemic of cholera and supplying fresh water to the villages and he's also hateful of himself the way he's made the rash decisions with his wife and how much it's cost him his happyness.

Kitty attempts to find the good in not just him but also her ability to spread joy and bring warmth to the church and the children since she believes she is of no use to her husband.

The movie really has you connected with both of these people and wondering will they realize how much they actually care for each other.

The problem of disease and unrest in China adds more to the drama.

It's almost as if can the people be saved but still have their sense of balance living as they choose to.

The locations are pretty to look at, the drama is intoxicating and the acting is 'wow'.

Being based on a book and having both main leads produce along with the director touches the heartstrings.