Fridae

Sigh... they just don't make movies like these anymore.

Based on Somerset Maugham's classic novel, The Painted Veil is a quiet and gentle period romance in the vein of Merchant-Ivory films like A Room with a View and Maurice. Unlike other acclaimed dramas like Crash or Babel, this humble film does not need to shout its message from rooftops, billboards or magazine covers. Maybe that's why it's not getting even half the attention it truly deserves.

But The Painted Veil is a truly good film, one that will impress you with its tenderness and authenticity.

At the core of it are two beautiful performances by two of the best actors of our time, Edward Norton and Naomi Watts. Edward plays a reserved doctor who falls in love with the beautiful Naomi. And although they don't have much in common, she says yes to his marriage proposal � if only to get out of her parents' house. They pack off to China for his work. But there, she falls for another expatriate (the ever-reliable Liev Screiber), planting the seeds of shame and bitterness in their marriage...

We really, really liked this film. And we strongly recommend that you catch this on the big screen while you still can. Our guess is, it won't stay up there for very long because it's not the typically noisy, CGI-infested thrill-ride that audiences seem to love these days.

But mature and more serious-minded movie-goers would cherish The Painted Veil. It reminds them of the days when movies were all about great acting, great directing and great storytelling.