Two Ralph Fiennes movies have landed on DVD/video in recent months, each very different. The latest is Merchant/Ivory's last production, The White Countess, finished shortly before Ismail Merchant's death. Set in Shanghai of the late 1930's, it's a sumptuous production about emigres hopes & dreams.
Ralph plays Todd Jackson,a former American diplomat who has been blinded in an accident & now dreams of creating the perfect nightclub. He wants as the centerpiece Countess Sofia (Natasha Richardson), exiled from Russia & now supporting her large family by working as a dance hall hostess. Her relatives disdain her, even as they take the money she earns to provide their food. There are a number of intriguing secondary characters including a Jewish neighbor who has fled Europe and a dashing Japanese man with shady connections.
The story centers on how Jackson & Sofia find they need each other & not just in the usual way. It's not the usual sort of romance & is done in an old fashioned way(which unfortunately means no naked Ralph), with splendid scenery & beautiful costumes. It's very atmospheric & layered.It deserved more attention than it got when it was on the big screen.
The other movie is The Chumscrubber which is a modern morality tale. An ensemble piece set in suburbia, it focuses on the utter self-absorbtion of today's parents & the effects it has on their teenagers. The title refers to a video game which is not only played by most of the kids in the film, but also stands as a metaphor for their frame of mind. Jamie Bell from Billy Elliot is dealing with the suicide of his friend, as well as the kidnapping of another kid, which the adults in the community are oblivious to.
Ralph plays Mayor Michael, who would get my vote regardless of which political party he belonged to. Mayor Michael is experiencing a burst of New Age enlightenment, which is quite endearing, but is alarming to his workaholic fiance. I've thought of dolphins in a whole new way since seeing this movie.
If you're in the mood for something other than blockbusters, something that gives you food for thought, look these films up at your video store. Plus, you'll be able to feast your eyes on a gorgeous, talented actor.
