Isabel Archer, an American heiress and free thinker travels to Europe to find herself. She tactfully rebuffs the advances of Caspar Goodwood, another American who has followed her to England. Her cousin, Ralph Touchett, wise but sickly becomes a soulmate of sorts for her. She makes an unfortunate alliance with the creepy Madame Merle who leads her to make an even more unfortunate alliance with Gilbert Osmond, a smooth but cold collector of Objets’ de art who seduces her with an intense but unattainable sexuality. Isabel marries Osmond only to realize she’s just another piece of art for his collection and that Madame Merle and Osmond are lovers who had hatched a diabolical scheme to take Isabel’s fortune. Isabel’s only comfort is the innocent daughter of Osmond, Pansy, but even that friendship is spoiled when Countess Gemini, Osmond’s sister, reveals the child’s true parentage. Isabel finally breaks free of Osmond and returns to Ralph’s bedside, where, while breathing his last, they …
Release Date: 17 January 1997Runtime: 144 min
Stars:
- Alessandra Vanzi
- Barbara Hershey
- Catherine Zago
- Christian Bale
- John Gielgud
- John Malkovich
- Martin Donovan
- Mary-Louise Parker
- Nicole Kidman
- Richard E. Grant
- Roger Ashton-Griffiths
- Shelley Duvall
- Shelley Winters
- Valentina Cervi
- Viggo Mortensen
Director: Jane Campion
