Besieged Review
by Akiva Gottlieb (akiva AT excite DOT com)May 27th, 1999
Besieged ***
rated R
Fine Line Features
in English and Italian with English subtitles
starring Thandie Newton, David Thewlis, Claudio Santamaria based on a story by James Landun
written by Bernardo Bertolucci and Clare Peploe
directed by Bernardo Bertolucci
An old African man plucks a tribal instrument and sings in a scratchy voice. A woman walks alone down a dirt road, then watches her husband get taken away to a military prison. A lonely man sits in an enormous Roman home and plays an intense piece he has just composed on the piano.
These are but a few of the breathtaking images caught on film in Bernardo Bertolucci's beautifully made "Besieged". Over many years, this Italian filmmaker has made a name for himself with exquisite, emotional films such as "The Last Emperor" and "Last Tango In Paris". Bertolucci's latest film, "Besieged" is a work of art if I've ever seen one.
The film stars Thandie Newton, who was robbed of a much-deserved Oscar nod for her gritty work in the title role of last year's underappreciated "Beloved", as Shandurai, a beautiful black woman working as a maid in the home of lonely pianist Mr. Kinsky (David Thewlis). Shandurai's husband has been imprisoned for unkown reasons, and she is learning that Mr. Kinsky is in love with her.
Shandurai tries to shy away from men since she is married (her only friend is homosexual), and Mr. Kinsky doesn't push her. The siege mentioned in the title is a subtle, emotional one. As the film progresses, Shandurai feels herself falling into Mr. Kinsky's trap.
There is not much plot to speak of in "Besieged", for it is a collage of incredible images piled on to one another; each one having ambiguous meaning. The last scene of the film, however, undercuts the satisying buildup, and will leave most viewers out in the dark. "Besieged" is a cold film, but an engrossing one. Bertolucci's attention to detail creates a vivid motion picture.
But as I left the theatre, I couldn't help but want to know more about each character's background. Shandurai's dark past is barely hinted at, and Mr. Kinsky has no story at all. There is such a serious drought of dialogue in this film, that I'm sure Quentin Tarantino could have made this entire screenplay into a 5 minute film.
But Bernardo Bertolucci's swift hand and Fabio Cianchetti's lucid camerawork keep "Besieged" real. The very special thing about this movie is that I'm sure 10 people could walk out of it with entirely different opinions of each aspect. If you like films that are unabashedly artsy, then "Besieged" was made just for you.
a review by Akiva Gottlieb, The Teenage Movie Critic
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