House of Mirth (The)

Genre: romantic drama
Director: Terence Davies
Release: 2000
Studio: Three Rivers, Granada Film et al. – Sony Pictures Classics
Rating: PG
MBiS score: 8.4/10


'Isn't marriage your vocation? Isn't it what you're all brought up for?'


The setting is New York City, the time, 1905. Lily Bart (Gillian Anderson), a young lady in Gotham's high society, is actively seeking a husband. On sentiments alone, Lawrence Selden (Eric Stoltz) would be a good choice but Lily doesn't know if he cares for her; besides, Lawrence is a confirmed bachelor and has no money. What's a girl to do, especially one who is burdened with debts? With Dan Aykroyd (Gus Trenor), Laura Linney (Bertha Dorset), Terry Kinney (George Dorset, Bertha's husband), Eleanor Bron (Mrs. Peniston, Lily's aunt), Anthony LaPaglia (Sim Rosedale), Jodhi May (Grace Stepney, a cousin) and Elizabeth McGovern (Carry Fisher).

Edith Wharton, whose life straddled the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, wrote solid novels about American mores and social classes, among them ETHAN FROME, THE AGE OF INNOCENCE and THE HOUSE OF MIRTH. In the latter, her heroine Lily Bart must struggle to get herself out of a bind despite a stifling and challenging environment. As you will see, there are solutions to her problems but none is ideal and all require some sort of compromise. Assorted friends, foes and vultures will come up with suggestions of their own but, ultimately, it will be up to Lily herself to deal with the intricacies of her situation.

In Terence Davies' fine adaptation, you may find the plot a little slow at first but remember that no one can solve a jigsaw puzzle without scattering its pieces on the table and taking time to study each one. Believe me, the finished picture will be worth your effort. Dialogues are remarkably tight in THE HOUSE OF MIRTH because the characters around Lily know life from experience and can play with love as if it were a game of chess. The acting here is entirely safisfying and I was notably impressed by Gillian Anderson's bewitching presence. Need I say more? Not really. Davies' film speaks for itself.

Do see this serious social drama conceived by a great novelist and a director not often in the limelight but excellent indeed. THE HOUSE OF MIRTH is by no means a feel-good film but then, life is never easy.


MBiS

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