Besieged (1999)

about this DVDfilm/movie beseiged........

This story is basically about shandurai decided to stay with Mr kinsky after her husband is freed from jail for anti govt protest where he later try to find her by pressing the bell at the place where she worked for Kinsky due to her been thanksful to Mr Kinsky for helping her in her husband problems....recommended to those whom are interested in this genre of films.

Besieged

Written by:


Dr, MR Franc MBBS (PhD) GPS Ang Poon Kah
Director 'lou ye'- Ang Poon Kah indication for film summer palace.
November 25, 2008

does she or doesn't she?

What a lovely movie. I was enchanted by the gorgeous music throughtout the movie. The two main actors are perfect in their roles. The movie moves at just the right pace, from slow resentment to full love. Masterful!
but how I hate a hanging ending!!!!! She never says she "loves" her husband only that she respects him, whereas she writes "Ilove you" to david Thewlis. But then, she gets out of bed. Conclusion? Up in the air. Satisfied? NO! December 1, 2007

"Not Again", right?

I know, I know. Thandie Newton has been cast in a role that seems all too familiar. I don't even need to go into it; you know what I'm talking about. Looking past that, I must admit that she does it well every time though. And her performance in "Besieged" may very well be her best. It's a classic love story that's not exactly what you might surmise by looking at the DVD's cover. For some reason, the price of this DVD has remained rather high. I would recommend shopping around for a good deal. But if you have to go with the high price, it will be worth every dollar. April 25, 2007

A cinematic triumph!

This is the rarest of all modern films, a MOTION PICTURE. It tells its story in image and facial expression, not in words. There is little dialogue; what sounds we hear are mostly music (the form of communication between the two leads) and ambient sounds, such as street noises.

This is another rare film in which the viewer (this viewer, anyway) can't imagine anyone else playing the leads. Newton (as Shandurai) and Thewlis (as Mr. Kinsky) fit into their roles so well, you believe them completely. There is never a false move in the entire film. Their growing relationship is defined largely by Kinsky's successful attempts to communicate with Shandurai with his piano, his most beloved possession.

The film explores motivation and honesty in an entirely new and refreshing way, leaving the viewer riveted to the screen, never taking the easy way out. What happens at the end? I'd like to think I know what will happen, but Bertolucci leaves it open-ended. January 10, 2007

Touches your soul

I love, love, love this movie. Every time I watch this movie I am enthralled by the great acting and beautiful yet haunting music. This is a movie with very little dialogue, however, it is a very memorable piece of art. Thandie Newton plays a woman who has lost her husband to the cruel injustices in her African country and moves to Rome to study medicine. She supports herself as a live in maid for a pianist.

Very early on in the movie we learn her employer has fallen in love with her. When she laughs at his advances he begs her to let him prove his love for her. She eventually tells him the only way he can prove his love is to free her husband from his African prison. He realizes then she is married but he has made a promise to prove his love and goes about selling his art and furniture to free her husband.

The haunting beauty of this film is the up close shots of Thandie Newton's face as she expresses joy, sadness, fear and remorse. She expresses all of her emotions without speaking words and draws the audience inside her and we experience her inner turmoil. As she realizes what her employer is doing for her and her husband she slowly begins to realize she has some feelings for him. Yet, because of the lack of dialogue we are never sure whether her feelings are a result of her gratefulness or true desire.

My only sore point is the ending of this film leaves you hanging. You want the beautiful African maid and her white lovestruck employer to be together, but we do not get the American style of a finished ending. We are left to make our own interpretations.

I am actually going to purchase this movie and the soundtrack. That's how wonderful I think it is. October 8, 2006

More reviews at Amazon.com ...