A Room With A View is a film from the critically praised duo, producer Ishmail Merchant and and director James Ivory. The pair specialized in creating costume period drama's on cheap independent budgets. With good writing, excellent scouting locations, and impressive wardrobes the pair were consistently able to acquire amazing actors for relatively little cost. The result being a string of films starting in India and ending over to England. A Room With A View came somewhere in the middle and is the film that many consider to have put the 'Merchant Ivory' name on the internationally map.
The film stars Helena Bonham Carter as a young privileged englishwoman on holiday in Florence. There she meets a strangely straight forward gentlemen who quickly pursues her heart. She is told that they're behavior isn't proper. She leaves back home only to eventually become engaged. Of course that isn't the last time they will see each other again.
Room is the type of film that I can sometimes struggle with. Large amounts of longing and uptight behavior with only a hint of passion on the surface. The story here for most men will probably feel dull and uneventful and it largely is. Thanks to a wonderful cast of characters though the film kept me engaged just enough to be worth watching. And who knows, on second viewing I may like it much more having already spent time with these people. Regardless though it only makes me more curious to check out the other films in the 'Merchant Ivory' catalogue.
C
1985
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