Maddening on many fronts and strangely wordless, Bernardo Bertolucci's purported love story breaks no new ground. Shandurai (Thandie Newton) flees her unspecified African homeland, where her husband was summarily arrested, to pursue a medical degree
in Rome. There she earns room and board by cleaning the villa of a wealthy Englishman, Mr. Kinsky (David Thewlis). Kinsky puts his heart and soul into playing elegaic classical compositions, while Shandurai combats homesickness by listening to sprightly African pop. Despite their different tastes,
he becomes obseseed with her and, in an archaic romantic gesture, declares eternal devotion. Shandurai declines his attentio...
Released:
1999
Rated:
R
Length:
92 mins