WINGS OF THE DOVE

UK, 1998, 97 minutes, Colour.
Helena Bonham Carter, Linus Roache, Allison Elliot, Alex Jennings, Charlotte Rampling, Michael Gambon, Elizabeth McGovern?.
Directed by Iain Softley.


Wings of the Dove is by Henry James with a later setting than Jane Campion's Portrait of a Lady, from the novel's 1902 to 1910 - giving it the Edwardian pre-war feel plus phones, the London Underground and tourism in Venice. But the film is really a three-hander, played beautifully by Helena Bonham Carter (Oscar-nominee) as the earnest but controlling Kate who risks love for financial security, by Linus Roache (Priest) as Merton the working journalist who loves her but who is asked by her to be kind to her American friend, Millie (Allison Elliot).

The film works subtly, drawing its audience into the small intricacies of relationships and society's moral and behavioural expectations. When the three holiday in Venice, Kate's scheme is too cleverly involved to be resolved happily. I think my review is only half a review. I found, somewhat to my surprise, that by the end I had so identified with the Linus Roache character and his decisions, that I was not sure how to respond to the experiences of the two women. I felt the need to read or hear a woman's review to learn a woman's perspective on and appreciation of what Kate and Millie felt. I say this as a compliment to the screenplay and the performances and their evocation of complex emotions.

1. The reputation of Henry James and his novels? Classics? The range of the film versions? His interest in society, British society, Americans within the society? Love, relationships? Money and financial situations?

2. 1910 setting, the Edwardian era, the eve of World War I? London, the Underground, buses, taxis? Homes, London streets? The opium den? Newspapers? Costumes and decor? The style of the period? The musical score?

3. The contrast with Venice, the beautiful city, the canals, the buildings, churches? The people, the hotels, the gondoliers?

4. The introduction to Kate, on the Underground, getting a seat, the encounter with Merton, in the lift, the kiss – and getting to know each other over the year? The attraction? Merton and his work, newspapers, meetings, criticisms? Kate and her situation, the dead mother, marrying her husband, his taking the money, Kate separated from him, his drug addiction, going to visit him in the den, his wise advice? Kate and dependence on aunt, her aunt’s strict control, the importance of finance? And the aunt sending some money to the father every week?

5. The meeting with Lord Mark, at the social, his comments about mothers and getting the daughters to meet prospective husbands? His drinking? The attraction to Kate? Visiting the house, conversations? His encounter with Millie? The attraction, marrying for money?

6. The character of the aunt, restrictive, rigid, the control of the family’s wealth, the discussions, knowing about Kate’s visits to her father, the visits to Merton?

7. Millie, American background, travelling Europe, charm? Meeting Lord Mark? Meeting Kate? The friendship, meetings, going out together, the meeting with Merton, Millie’s attraction? The doctor, the information about her health, terminal illness? The decision to go to Venice?

8. The beauty of Venice, arriving, the gondoliers, the hotel, the comfort? The friendship with Susan, older, serving as a chaperone, her concern about Millie’s health?

9. The tourist aspects of Venice, the visuals, the situations? The gondolas, the gondoliers?

10. Kate persuading him Merton to come, egging on his attention to Millie, Merton’s character, his love for Kate, the meetings with Susan, the time with Millie? Kate wanting him to give attention to Milly? Kate’s motives, that Merton would inherit the money from Millie? And that she would marry Merton? The visit of Lord Mark, Kate telling him about Millie’s health? His comment about marrying for a short time?

11. The effect of Venice on Merton, Kate and his love for her, her decision to back to London, wanting Merton to give Millie his attention? Merton, his motives, his attentiveness to Millie, the various trips, walking around Venice, missing each other? Her falling in love with Merton, loving his company? His continual attentiveness, devotion, sympathy? The affection for Millie, though not love? Her illness, lying on the lounge, Merton and his visit, his attention to Millie, his apology to her? Susan and intervention?

12. Kate, returning, Millie’s death, the funeral? The effect on Merton, on Kate, on Susan?

13. The return to London, Kate and her delay in meeting Merton, the letter, that Merton would inherit Millie’s wealth? His not wanting it, planning to write a letter rejecting it? Kate and her seductive behaviour, the sexual relationship, the aftermath, the marriage and his condition that he reject the money? Her conditions?

14. A portrait of people, feelings, emotions, judgements of the mind, of conscience, of principle? The ability of people to exploit one another? The ability of people to act with integrity?