Florence, 1 9 0 0s. The young Lucy Honeychurch and her uptight older cousin Charlotte are on a tourist visit, but are disappointed with the view from their pension. Upon hearing that at a meal, British Mr. Emerson and his son George persuade them to switch rooms, since the latter have a good view. The depressive George loosens up and kisses Lucy in a barley field, causing Charlotte to hastily depart with Lucy. UK. Lucy accepts an arranged marriage with Aristocrat Cecil, but starts doubting herself when George and Mr. Emerson move to a nearby house. George kisses Lucy again, but she tells him to leave. She then breaks up with Cecil and intends to take a long journey to Athens. Upon visiting Mr. Emerson, Lucy finally admits she loves George and they take a trip in Florence in spring.
Historical period dramas are a dime a dozen, but luckily, "A Room with a View" is one refreshing exception: as unexciting as its plot sounds, so much it is an excellent adaptation of E. M. Forster's eponymous novel, a wonderful little film about awakening of dormant emotions that is full of life, elegance and subtle humor that almost make it a comedy at times. It is widely considered the apex in the triumvirate careers of director James Ivory, screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala and producer Ismail Merchant in one. It stays true to its literature origins, depicting the concept of human love in the British upper class, which is in a rift between the conservative, restrictive (Charlotte) and liberal, progressive (Mr. Emerson) view. The title thus becomes a symbol for the narrow or wide view on life of these two sides. Little details, dialogues, nuances and gestures manage to conjure up these characters and their relations. The young Lucy (an underrated performance by Helena Bonham Carter) wants to act polite, but slowly realizes one cannot be polite about your emotions. In the Florence dinning room sequence, George already seizes her attention when he makes a question mark out of peas on his plate.
Denholm Elliott is great as his father, Mr. Emerson. He does not have that much screen time, but each and every one of his scenes is a gem. During a sight seeing tour, he has a very honest and revealing dialogue with Lucy about the depressive George, which is a defining moment in the film: "My poor boy has brains, but he is very muddled." - "But why should he be?" - "Well of you to ask. For the way he was brought up, free from all the superstition that leads men to hate one other in the name of God." - "I must go." - "I don't require you to fall in love with my boy, but please try to help him. If anyone could stop him from brooding... And on what? The things in the Universe." It speaks about the therapeutic effects of love and passion in healing depressive people. Surprisingly, Ivory allows for some downright burlesque moments: in one of them, George, a friend and even the vicar strip naked to take a bath in a lake in the forest, but, of course, Lucy and her company just happen to be taking a walk there, spotting them. In another great little, almost metafilm moment, an oblivious Cecil reads a novel set in Florence in which the author almost identically described how George kissed Lucy in a barley field, which stimulates George to follow Lucy and kiss her again later on. Rarely do you get a chance to see a historical drama which seems as timeless (and universal) in its characters and emotions as if it plays out in modern times, all adding to its delight, which is understated, low-key and builds up slowly, yet works from every aspect later on: these characters are all so charming they cause a smile on the viewer's face.
Grade:+++
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