burgan6203

One thing regarding Christopher Hampton's film "Carrington" that bears noting for potential viewers is that previous knowledge is helpful. If you don't have any sort of idea who Dora Carrington and Lytton Strachey are, or the avant-garde world in which they moved, then the movie will seem very obscure and disjointed.

Regarding the movie, it is odd and melancholic, but richly intelligent and rewarding, particularly with repeated viewings.The cinematography is attractive without being showy. Michael Nyman's score is haunting and uniquely beautiful.And the casting is perfect, particularly Jonathan Pryce as the ironic Bloomsbury butterfly Strachey, and Emma Thompson as the strangely alluring Carrington, who's heart beats fiercely with love for him, despite the fact that neither of them will ever be able to do anything about it.

My personal favorite scene is when they are sitting under the tree, and Carrington tells Lytton how she feels, and he understands.They are both so peaceful and content.

I have heard many people complain how boring or monotonous "Howards End" is(look at some of the other user comments). The first time I watched it, I was inclined to concur, though only in regards to the first hour. However I eventually got around to reading the book, and decided to view the movie again.

I now found that none of it could be described as boring. The possible reason for this may be choices made by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala and James Ivory regarding the visual representation of Forster's language and ideals, in ways which make the film and book differ, but enhance the screen drama(ie. having the Beethoven concert be a lecture on "Music and Meaning", and the extended scene of Helen Schlegal and Leonard Bast on the lake). This, combined with lovely art direction and costuming and the brilliant cast(particular credit to Emma Thompson as Margaret Schlegal, who serves as the moral and intellectual center of the story)makes the Merchant Ivory production of "Howards End" excellent.