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DramaRomance

A Room with a View

- An Edwardian Romance

When Lucy Honeychurch and chaperon Charlotte Bartlett find themselves in Florence with rooms without views, fellow guests Mr Emerson and son George step in to remedy the situation. Meeting the Emersons could change Lucy's life forever but, once back in England, how will her experiences in Tuscany affect her marriage plans?

Release Date : 1986-03-07

Language :EnglishItalian

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Curzon Film DistributorsGoldcrestNational Film Finance Corporation (NFFC)Film4 Productions

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Helena Bonham Carter

Character Name : Lucy Honeychurch

Original Name : Helena Bonham Carter

Gender : Female

Julian Sands

Character Name : George Emerson

Original Name : Julian Sands

Gender : Male

Maggie Smith

Character Name : Charlotte Bartlett

Original Name : Maggie Smith

Gender : Female

Denholm Elliott

Character Name : Mr. Emerson

Original Name : Denholm Elliott

Gender : Male

Daniel Day-Lewis

Character Name : Cecil Vyse

Original Name : Daniel Day-Lewis

Gender : Male

Simon Callow

Character Name : The Reverend Mr. Beebe

Original Name : Simon Callow

Gender : Male

Rosemary Leach

Character Name : Mrs. Honeychurch

Original Name : Rosemary Leach

Gender : Female

Rupert Graves

Character Name : Freddy Honeychurch

Original Name : Rupert Graves

Gender : Male

Patrick Godfrey

Character Name : The Reverend Mr. Eager

Original Name : Patrick Godfrey

Gender : Male

Judi Dench

Character Name : Eleanor Lavish

Original Name : Judi Dench

Gender : Female

Fabia Drake

Character Name : Miss Catharine Alan

Original Name : Fabia Drake

Gender : Female

Joan Henley

Character Name : Miss Teresa Alan

Original Name : Joan Henley

Gender : Female

Amanda Walker

Character Name : The Cockney Signora

Original Name : Amanda Walker

Gender : Female

Maria Britneva

Character Name : Mrs. Vyse

Original Name : Maria Britneva

Gender : Female

Mia Fothergill

Character Name : Minnie Beebe

Original Name : Mia Fothergill

Gender : Female

Peter Cellier

Character Name : Sir Harry Otway

Original Name : Peter Cellier

Gender : Male

Matyelok Gibbs

Character Name : New Charlotte

Original Name : Matyelok Gibbs

Gender : Female

Kitty Aldridge

Character Name : New Lucy

Original Name : Kitty Aldridge

Gender : Female

Patricia Lawrence

Character Name : Mrs Butterworth

Original Name : Patricia Lawrence

Gender : Female

Freddy Korner

Character Name : Mr Floyd

Original Name : Freddy Korner

Gender : Male

Elizabeth Marangoni

Character Name : Miss Poole

Original Name : Elizabeth Marangoni

Gender : Male

Mirio Guidelli

Character Name : Santa Croce Guide

Original Name : Mirio Guidelli

Gender : Male

Lucca Rossi

Character Name : Phaeton

Original Name : Lucca Rossi

Gender : Male

Isabella Celani

Character Name : Persephone

Original Name : Isabella Celani

Gender : Male

Luigi Di Fiore

Character Name : Murdered Youth

Original Name : Luigi Di Fiore

Gender : Male

Brigid Erin Bates

Character Name : Maid at Windy Corner

Original Name : Brigid Erin Bates

Gender : Female

Peter Munt

Character Name : Coachman

Original Name : Peter Munt

Gender : Male

Luca Rossi

Character Name : Phaeton

Original Name : Luca Rossi

Gender : Male

Stefano Serboli

Character Name : Fighting Youth

Original Name : Stefano Serboli

Gender : Male

Phillada Sewell

Character Name : Lady at Sir Harry's Garden Party

Original Name : Phillada Sewell

Gender : Female

Margaret Ward

Character Name : Lady at Sir Harry's Garden Party

Original Name : Margaret Ward

Gender : Female

James Wilby

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : James Wilby

Gender : Male

Reviews

F

Filipe Manuel Neto

@FilipeManuelNeto

2024-03-11

**A film that seems to be more concerned with criticizing the manners of the 19th century than with telling us a good story.** The film is set in the early years of the 20th century and is a romantic story that begins when a young British girl stays in a guesthouse in Florence among other English tourists. The room she received does not have a view over the River Arno, so she agrees to exchange with a young man, with progressive and daring ideas, who will win her heart. When they return to England, the get-together is inevitable. I haven't read the book this film is based on, but I believe those who say the adaptation is respectful. Written by James Ivory, it won three Oscars (Best Costume Design, Best Art Direction and Best Adapted Screenplay) and was also nominated for other awards (Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Film). However, if we think about it, almost no one remembers it nowadays, except for big cinema fans. As a romantic film, it works and fits into that cliché of couples who break conventions to experience love, a utopia that leaves the majority of the female audience daydreaming. It's not a bad story, but we know where it will end. There is a profound anachrony underlying the film. It is not visible in the production itself, which is luxurious and expensive, with excellent sets, makeup, hairstyles, costumes and intelligently selected props. However, watching the film calmly, we detect the anachrony in the way in which British society at the time was portrayed: etiquette, good manners and social conventions appear as “castrating” love and passions, when in fact few people in that society overvalued love in the same way we do. This must be in the original book, of course, but it is still a “black and white” vision of a past that is judged in the light of our eyes. Despite this, it deserves clear praise for the sets, costumes and props, for its magnificent cinematography, where warm colors and the most touristic landscapes and places in Florence (one of the most beautiful in Europe) stand out, and for an excellent soundtrack, solidly based on classical and lyrical pieces that may, or may not, be recognized by the public. However, what stands out in the film and gives it greater value is the extraordinary performance by a luxurious cast full of strong, talented and well-known names. A very particular ovation is justified by the work of Helena Bonham Carter, in her debut in the seventh art, marking the start of her great career in cinema. Equally incredible was the chameleonic Daniel Day-Lewis, who gave us an affected and pompous gentleman who gave soul and grace. Maggie Smith is always a safe bet, especially when she plays characters within her “comfort zone”, but I found her somewhat dull. Denholm Elliott is very good, but not incredible as Julian Sands, who has one of the central roles in the plot. He was one of those actors who would have done better by spending a little more time working in Europe before trying his luck in the USA. He was very good, but he lacked opportunities in the land where they supposedly appear. Allow me to make an aside: in one of those strange coincidences in life, I saw this film yesterday and just now saw, at the Oscars ceremony, this actor's name in memoriam by having passed away in 2023. What more can I say? Rest in peace.