Die Europäer

Ok, maybe I missed something, but the movie seemed very odd to me. The actors and actresses were either lethargic or over-hyper, and seemed to lack sincerity. So after the first five minutes, I gave up trying to follow the plot and concentrated on the costuming instead, which was fabulous. Period movies (especially ones made pre-1990) tend to care less about authenticity, and more about what looks good to the modern eye. This one was a pleasant surprise. In fact, the clothes were so good that I even wonder if they didn't use originals. I want to know, where did they get those incredible fabrics?? The hair, which is where most movies trip up the worst, was quite good except on the blonde lady (who looked like she stepped out of a 1979 issue of Vogue). Less black eye makeup would have completed the stunning job. All in all, I would recomend this movie to anyone at all interested in the look and feel of 1850s new england life, as a superb example of authenticity.

"An archetype of Merchant-Ivory period production, THE EUROPEANS is a film adaptation of Henry James' eponymous 1878 short novel, mid-19th century, the Wentworths are a wealthy family dwelling in rural Boston, and Mr. Wentworth (Addy) has three adult children, Charlotte (New), Gertrude (Eichhorn) and Clifford (Choate), while the family intends to tie the knot between a nonconformist Gertrude and the local Unitarian minister Mr. Brand (Snow), she finds no peace in his puritanical values, one day, her encounter with her cousin hitherto she has never met before, Felix Young (Woodward), sows the romantic seeds in both hearts."

read my full review on my blog: cinema omnivore, thanks

I first saw this movie in a "Henry James on Film" class back in about 1994. I'd just read the novella of the same name and enjoyed it immensely. Not only was it remarkably beautiful and deeply moving but also, at moments, intentionally laugh out loud funny.

MIP, as is their way I later discovered, created a script that fails to recognize the difference between the written word and the spoken word/visual image. The camera work is beautiful, and all the superficial details seem so right (furnishings, clothes, surfaces in general), all of which I've found to be typical of MIP films. What a pity they didn't devote at least some of that time to other matters, such as understanding the characters involved. Lines are lifted directly from the novella, with little or no attempt to adapt them to the demands of the big (or small) screen.

As a result, all of the glorious subtlety of the original is lost, absolutely lost. James' characters are complex, yes, but also thoroughly real, human, and comprehensible, despite what some of his critics may claim. You wouldn't know that from any of the MIP adaptations of his works, specifically THE BOSTONIANS and THE GOLDEN BOWL. I've yet to see HULLABALOO OVER GEORGIE AND BONNIE'S PICTURES, which is, according to certain film critics, and suggested by what I've read about the film, an adaptation of James' "The Aspern Papers." Ivory has been asked about this, but has refused to answer one way or the other.

It doesn't help that MIP films have tended to be shot on such tight time/money budgets that it may be impossible to shoot all the scenes that were scripted, let alone to reshoot a scene when needed. As such, they rely heavily on editing the footage they have. Anyone who studies their films may well find that this approach leads to most unsatisfying results.

I've seen ten or more MIP films since this one, in an attempt to determine if this was an isolated misstep on their part, or the norm for them. I found the latter to be the case. Their films make me think of the children's fairy tale of the emperor who had no clothes. But, in the case of MIP fare, it's just the reverse: it's all clothes -- and no emperor!

When felix and eugenia, the cousins from europe, show up unexpectedly, the prim and proper wentworth family isn't sure what to expect. And that's the first thirty minutes of the film. Then things pick up a bit when the two men chasing after women come face to face... at the one hour mark. Things kind of sail along until the very end, when all secrets are revealed. It's all well done, just nothing real exciting going on here. Euros come to boston, and visit the religious side of the family. It's okay. Kind of a slow simmer, like a jane austen novel. It's all about the love story. Directed by james ivory. He has won an oscar, and been nominated for three more. But not for this film. Story by henry james. This was nominated for best costumes. Currently showing on the tubi channel.

Filmed in typical lush Merchant-Ivory fashion, this film left me feeling confused. I wanted to like it, and certainly enjoyed the sumptuous visuals, but it simply failed to lift off the launch pad.