Fanny, born into a poor family, is sent away to live with wealthy uncle, where she will be brought up for a proper introduction to society.
Fanny (Frances O'Connor), born into a poor family, is sent away to live with her uncle Sir Thomas (Harold Pinter), his wife (Lindsay Duncan) and their four children. She is treated unfavourably by her relatives, except for her cousin Edmund (Jonny Lee Miller), whom she grows fond of. However, Fanny's life is thrown into disarray with the arrival of worldly Mary Crawford (Embeth Davidtz) and her brother Henry (Alessandro Nivola). Harold Pinter's portrayal of the decent, insensitive Sir Thomas, a man with various guilts gnawing at his soul, is a highlight of the film, alongside Patricia Rozema’s rich and tactile direction, making sure to take care of the less obvious interactions in the grander scenes.
UK/USA 1999 Patricia Rozema 112m
