The painted veil was definitely great, changed in a skilfull way but no so much and beautiful in its own, rather different than the novel, way. The screenplay by ron nyswaner is based on the 1925 novel of the same title by w. At the beginning, kitty does not love her husband walter, but is. Having read the original novel by somerset maugham, a stark yet moving tale of a young woman s reevaluation of her life and values, the movie was a slightly more romaniticized version of the novel. Kittys theme lang lang prague symphony orchestra alexandre desplat the painted veil. I knew one who had lifted ithe sought, for his lost heart was tender. Somerset maughams novel was deeply controversial at the time of. Lift not the painted veil which those who live call. Gender, sexuality, and history in the painted veil. Aug 20, 2009 the painted veil was definitely great, changed in a skilfull way but no so much and beautiful in its own, rather different than the novel, way. Although the fact that i finished the painted veil in early july also does not bode well. Garstin, and their respective relationships to kitty.
Walter lived, now he and kitty must put the past aside and learn to truly communicate if they ever hope to get along. With naomi watts, edward norton, liev schreiber, catherine an. I remember watching once the razor s edge from the mid 1940s, filmed immediately after the publishing of the novel. Sumptuous and moody, the soundtrack to the movie, the painted veil, is one that i have enjoyed listening to over and over again. Only when it is too late does dymov s wife olga like kitty realize her husband s moral worth and see that he is a far finer man than she had realized.
The painted veil is a 1925 novel by british author w. Somerset maugham i picked this book up after i saw it named a top read of 2010 on a few different blogs. Music by alexandre desplat arranged by piano palt the painted veil 2006, directed by john curran, is the love story of kitty naomi watts. Watts, who has been raised for a life of abject uselessness. Somerset maugham, the painted veil tells the story. The painted veil, based more on the book than the film. Walter is quiet and faithful while kitty is loud and unfaithful. At the beginning, kitty does not love her husband walter, but is instead enamored. The painted veil was eventually able to expand to 23 more markets on december 29, 2006, with additional cities on january 5, 2007.
Lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. The writing style changes over the course of the book, from abrupt and focused on kitty to detailed and moving as kittys reality begins to change. Jun 07, 2012 the painted veil william somerset maugham this is a book to get lost in, not just in the usual way of books, but in a way that is haunting and will have you musing for days and days, long after you have turned the final page. The painted veil is the story of kitty fane, a beautiful, but thoughtless, shallow, and selfcentered woman.
Jun 19, 2012 the painted veil opens with kitty and walter standing in the chinese countryside, waiting for their escort to arrive and take them to the village, so walter can begin treating the cholera outbreak. In politics and marriage, the painted veil suggests that relating from heart to heart mends the self. The painted veil vintage international kindle edition. While his work for the queen has garnered the most widespread support from mainstream listeners, the painted veil is a more cerebral, listenable, and arguably more interesting score for its film. Kittys awakening in the painted veil masters thesis. It focuses on a young debutante named kitty garstin, who, after rejecting dozens of marriage proposals, finds herself marrying an eccentric doctor named walter fane. She doesnt love her husband so she soon falls in love and begins an affair with her husbands superior. Vintage classics, 1925, 214 pages first published in 1925, the painted veil is an affirmation of the human capacity to grow, change, and forgive.
Several times in the novel, the death of a character is a liberation for those close to them. Kitty fane is a beautiful young woman whose mother has raised her to make a. I watched the painted veil, the movie starring edward norton and naomi watts, one night when huzzybuns was out of either town or country or. This thesis aims to analyze the awakening and maturity of the heroine kitty in maughams work the painted veil from the perspective of freudian consciousness theory which includes the origin of the unconscious, the id, the ego and superego. A british medical doctor fights a cholera epidemic in a small chinese village, while being trapped at home in a loveless marriage to an unfaithful wife. This study guide consists of approximately 34 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the painted veil. The title is taken from percy bysshe shelley s sonnet, which begins lift not the painted veil which those who live call life.
The main thrust of the book is kittys transformation after she and. The painted veil inspires emotions, senses the observer. Alexandre desplat featured lang lang the painted veil. Buy on link golden globe winner for best motion picture score, the painted veil has to be one of the most surprising. Tragic and haunting like the book and film, this soundtrack is vaguely reminiscent of the atonement score. The novel of the painted veil, written by somerset maugham, is mainly set in 3 different places. You must stay with us, said dorothy, on kittys return to hong kong.
The painted veil original motion picture soundtrack. It focuses on a young debutante named kitty garstin, who. The radio show was different in minor ways but, again, apart from updating the female role to fit modern demands, it wasnt that far off from the book. The ministers black veil the story the ministers black veil has been written by nathaniel hawthorne. The painted veil is one of the few films ive seen recently whose. First published in 1925, the painted veil is an affirmation of the human. Piano book encore edition piano book deluxe edition piano magic. In regards to charles townsend, kittys lover, in the book i thought him to be a character similar to jack favell from rebecca. The painted veil is a 2006 american drama film directed by john curran. In the book his story isnt really tied up yes, we see that he has used kitty again and doesnt care about her. Somerset maugham first published the painted veil in 1925. May 04, 20 in regards to charles townsend, kittys lover, in the book i thought him to be a character similar to jack favell from rebecca. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is the story of the beautiful but lovestarved kitty fane.
I watched the movie today and i found it quite interesting especially the theme of sex throughout the movie and this intense desire to. Jan 01, 2006 sumptuous and moody, the soundtrack to the movie, the painted veil, is one that i have enjoyed listening to over and over again. Somerset maughams novel the painted veil is today recognized as a 20th century classic. Recorded in widescreen technical sound by deutsche grammophon, desplat s score for the painted veil catches the film s mood of morbid romanticism, and anyone who saw the movie and wants to hear the music independent of the images will be more than satisfied with this 54minute soundtrack. Shallow, spoilt kitty garstin has married dr walter fane, a bacteriologist living in china just so that she can walk down the aisle before her. These contrasts make the themes in this book even more apparent. I struggled to appreciate it, for the book ends without kittys selfrealization being complete.
The painted veil william somerset maugham my book affair. To more pragmatic, modern eyes, kittys emotional growth appears minimal. Percy byshhe shelley the book has a riveting opening scene that sets the snappy pace of the story it feels like a thriller for. This thesis aims to analyze the awakening and maturity of the heroine kitty in maughams work the painted veil from the perspective of freudian. The work has long been lauded as a nuanced character study and compelling portrayal of human growth. When her younger sister announces her own engagement to a. Somerset maughams 1925 novel the painted veil, previously filmed rather beautifully in 1934 starring greta garbo and indifferently in 1957 as the seventh sin, is the tale of kitty naomi watts. This is going to be an extremely casual set of thoughts. The novel itself takes its title from a percy bysshe shelley sonnet that states, lift not the painted veil which those who live call life maugham, ix. The film chronicles the relationship of walter and kitty fane as they battle an outbreak of cholera in a remote chinese village in the 1920s and seek to restore their marriage. The main thrust of the book is kitty s transformation after she and walter husband move to a cholerastricken region and she volunteers in a conventhospital. Apart from that, i thought nothing of him as a character. Imagine debussys pentatonic melodies and saties ironic harmonies coupled with legrands grandly sweeping strings and glass minimalist ostinatos and youve more or less imagined alexandre.
The novel opens when walter discovers his wifes infidelity. When her husband discovers her adulterous affair, he forces her to. The painted veil, an album by lang lang, prague symphony orchestra, alexandre desplat on spotify we and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your. The painted veil is simple, well told and enjoyable, but i wish there had been more descriptions of this area of china and its people. Compare and contrast two approaches to the idea of what is love as evidenced by the following characters. Sigmund freud was the founding father of psychoanalysis.
I mostly enjoyed to witness the development of kittys character. The painted veil a beautifully written story about a young wife, kitty fane, who is brought to hong kong by her doctor husband in the 1920s. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is. The story reflects the occurrences of the life of a clergyman of a village whose name is. Compare and contrast the characters of walter and mr. I think it almost refers back to waddington s comment on the beauty of life, and also kitty s question as to whether or not what the nuns do. The book filled in many of the characters personality quirks, clarifies kittys home life causing her to impulsively marry walter. Somerset maugham s 1925 novel the painted veil, previously filmed rather beautifully in 1934 starring greta garbo and indifferently in 1957 as the seventh sin, is the tale of kitty naomi watts. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, it is the story of the beautiful but shallow young kitty fane. How can such a book be representative of a huge country like china. The painted veil composed by alexander desplat milan records. Print and download painted veil kitty s theme sheet music. Between kitty and walter, simple love ends conflict. The painted veil does show kittys change to some extent.
The painted veil is the story of the beautiful, but lovestarved kitty fane. Aug 11, 20 here is the soundtrack kitty s theme from the amazing 2006 movie the painted veil. The title is taken from percy bysshe shelleys sonnet, which begins lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. Lift not the painted veil which those who live lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. I would say that the biggest difference is that the book does not give you the great romantic reconciliation between walter and kitty that the movie. The painted veil is a beautifully written affirmation of the human capacity to grow, to change, and to forgive.
You must stay with us, said dorothy, on kitty s return to hong kong. The book filled in many of the character s personality quirks, clarifies kitty s home life causing her to impulsively marry walter. Discussion for the painted veil showing 122 of 22 goodreads. The painted veil, at least the novel version, is the story of kittys. Print and download painted veil kittys theme sheet music. Throughout the novel kitty was developed significantly and she. The painted veil is both a critical social commentary and deeply. The painted veil essays are academic essays for citation. The painted veil by somerset maugham books the guardian. The theme of love is central to the painted veil and has many manifestations. Fascinating look at these characters, and how people rationalize their behavior, even if it involves hurt and heartbreak when reality sets in. This is a book to get lost in, not just in the usual way of books, but in a way that is haunting and will have you musing for days and days, long after you have turned the final page. Published november 14th 2006 by vintage first published april 1925 more details.
Somerset maugham, which was first serialized in cosmopolitan and nashs magazine. Kittys mother is extremely concerned with social position. The average viewer who rated the painted veil at rotten tomatoes tends to agree with me. The painted veil opens with kitty and walter standing in the chinese countryside, waiting for their escort to arrive and take them to the village, so walter can begin treating the cholera. Kittys theme, a song by lang lang, prague symphony. The plot moves from climax to climax as you might expect from a novel that was originally serialised. The film chronicles the relationship of walter and kitty fane as they battle an outbreak of cholera in a. Sep 15, 2018 provided to youtube by universal music group kittys theme lang lang prague symphony orchestra alexandre desplat the painted veil. In fact, it was closer to the novel than the movie.
Many of the other characters are there simply to change kittys perception of the world, and there were many times i wanted to learn. The painted veil is both a critical social commentary and deeply personal tale of self realisation. Around the world in 80 books meet your next favorite book. The nature of love is one of the primary themes of the novel. The painted veil is a brilliant, morally uplifting drama set in the 1920s. Kittys theme, a song by lang lang, prague symphony orchestra. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the painted veil by w. The painted veil was first published in 1925 and is usually described as a strong story about a womans spiritual journey. Dec 20, 2006 first published in 1925, the painted veil recounts the moral awakening of a vain, careless young woman, kitty ms. While i was in the midst of a somerset maugham obsession triggered by selina hastingss superb biography, i mentioned that i thought the painted veil would be an excellent choice. England is kitty s hometown where she meets walter. The title the painted veil refers to a poem of the same name by percy shelley, which starts with the line lift not the painted veil which those who livecall life. This thesis aims to analyze the awakening and maturity of the heroine kitty in maughams work the painted veil from the perspective of freudian consciousness theory which includes the origin of. When her husband discovers her adulterous affair, he forces her to accompany him to the heart of a cholera epidemic.
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