Watch The Painted Veil

The Painted Veil is a 2006 period drama film set in 1920s China. The movie is directed by John Curran and stars Naomi Watts, Edward Norton, and Liev Schreiber in the lead roles. This movie is an adaptation of the novel by W. Somerset Maugham, which was first published in 1925. The story revolves around Kitty Garstin (Naomi Watts), who is a young and beautiful socialite. She lives a privileged life and has a charming personality. She falls in love with a bacteriologist named Walter Fane (Edward Norton), who proposes to her. Despite having doubts about their compatibility, Kitty accepts the proposal to escape her suffocating life with her overbearing mother.

Kitty and Walter move to Shanghai, and Kitty finds it difficult to adjust to the new lifestyle. She is bored with the mundane life of a housewife and is lured into the social scene by Charles Townsend (Liev Schreiber), a British vice-consul. Kitty starts an affair with Charles, which threatens to destroy her marriage.

Walter discovers the affair and is devastated. He decides to take on a new job in a rural village in China, which is ravaged by a deadly cholera epidemic. Walter sees this as an opportunity to punish Kitty for her infidelity and forces her to accompany him to the village.

As the couple reaches the village, they find that the epidemic has spread, and the locals are dying at an alarming rate. Walter, who is an expert in the field, decides to stay and try and help the villagers, with Kitty staying to assist him. During their time in the village, Kitty and Walter start to reconnect, and she sees a new side of him.

The Painted Veil is a beautiful movie about love, betrayal, forgiveness, and redemption. The movie takes you on a journey through the beautiful landscapes of China and introduces you to the culture of the era. The performances of the lead actors are stunning and heartfelt.

Naomi Watts gives a beautiful performance as Kitty, portraying her as a strong woman who learns to appreciate the value of her relationship with Walter. Edward Norton is brilliant as Walter, capturing his character's complexities with precision. Liev Schreiber is subtle in his portrayal of Charles, bringing a sense of charm and sensuality to the character.

The movie is beautifully shot by the director of photography, Stuart Dryburgh. The cinematography captures the essence of China's natural beauty, from its lush green forests to its vibrant villages filled with color and life.

The soundtrack of the movie features an original score by Alexandre Desplat, which transports the viewer into the movie's era, with a fusion of western classical music and Chinese folk music.

In conclusion, The Painted Veil is a beautiful movie that captivates the viewer with its stunning visuals and powerful story. The movie is a poignant reminder of the importance of forgiveness and the power of love. The performances of the lead actors along with the brilliant direction and cinematography make this movie a must-watch.

The Painted Veil is a 2006 romance movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 5 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4 and a MetaScore of 69.