Por Onde os Anjos Não Passam

Charles Sturridge's adaption of E.M. Forster's classic novel is well in line with such other greats as "Howards End", "A Room With a View", and "A Passage To India". As with all of Forster's work, "Where Angels Fear to Tread" treats the topic of Edwardian British society with poignancy and humour.

Cultures clash when Philip Herriton is forced by his mother to retrieve the only child of his dead sister-in-law, Lilia, from its Italian father. The baby represents both the English and Italian way of life, and the ensuing struggle over it is an analysis of just how futile our own nativist prejudices can be.

Such a sensitive topic is dealt with by a charming cast. Rupert Graves is perfect as a man transformed by his horrific experiences; Helen Mirren is both laughable and lamentable as the tragically flighty Lilia; Helena Bonham-Carter is the soul of goodness, and Judy Davis (a Forster veteran from "A Passage to India") provides comic relief as stuffy Harriet. These fine performances are matched with a beautiful score by Rachel Portman and even more beautiful Italian vistas courtesy of Mr. Sturridge.

Stimulating and provocative, I highly recommend this film to those interested in either Forsters' work or the imperialistic inclinations of the British circa 1900.

Where Angels Fear To Tread, a fine novel in its own right, is transferred to the big screen with wit and a painter's eye by the masterful Charles Sturridge. Against a backdrop rich in Edwardian England's own brand of stuffy propriety, we watch cultures and mores clash, with poignant, and occasionally hilarious results. Judy Davis delivers one of my top ten moments on film, a snit of epic self-righteousness, in a memorable scene at the opera. The beauty of the film lies in its fluid and compassionate depiction of the wrongheadedness and confusion which ensue when foreign travelers pack their own narrow values next to the toothpaste, granting themselves permission to brandish them in the face of every long-suffering local along the way. Luckily for us, the film is populated by a believable group of finely drawn characters, played by actors who simply could not be better cast.

Charles Sturridge's 1991 film, "Where Angels Fear to Tread," beautifully adapts E. M. Forster's novel, vividly exploring the clash between rigid English decorum and vibrant Italian passion. The Herriton family's shock when widowed Lilia (Helen Mirren) impulsively marries Italian Gino Carella (Giovanni Guidelli) drives the plot, leading to their desperate attempts to reclaim her child. Rupert Graves as Philip Herriton and Helena Bonham Carter as Caroline Abbott navigate this cultural divide, but it's Judy Davis as the xenophobic Harriet whose actions lead to tragedy. The film excels visually, with stunning Tuscan landscapes contrasting sharply with English restraint. While occasionally deliberate in pace and with a sometimes underdeveloped Gino, it effectively conveys Forster's themes of cultural misunderstanding and social hypocrisy. Ultimately, it's a solid, compelling, and often tragic portrayal of human prejudice.

Where Angels Fear to Tread is not the best E. M. Forster novel to be written, and it is certainly not the best to be made into a movie, but it is well worth watching for another superb performance by Helena Bonham Cater and her supporting cast.

Rupert Graves (V for Vendetta) is excellent as an Edwardian aristocrat who becomes enchanted with the Italian way of living. Helen Mirrewn (The Queen) is equally good in her small role as the flighty Lilia. Judy Davis (Marie Antoinette , The Beak-up) provides the comic relief as a proper lady who cannot abide a half-English child being brought up by Italians.

It all makes for a good movie with fine performances.

The first time I watched this movie I kept saying to myself.. this movie seems so familiar.. Then I realized that I had read the book the summer before.. This is a great credit to the screenwriter and director as the story is followed precisely and each page is brought to life on the screen.. A must for Forester fans, Anglophiles or those who want to enjoy a true tale of human souls intertwined. The prejudices and self importance of the English upper class are superbly charactered by all.. You'll laugh , cry and wonder at their actions.. You will become part of them... This is definitely one that I will be adding to my "Sunday Night Movie and Tea" collection.