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The Governess (1998)

The Governess (1998)
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London TV commercials director Sandra Goldbacher made her feature directorial debut with this early Victorian England drama filmed on the Isle of Arran. In London, Rosina Da Silva (Minnie Driver) is shaken by the murder of her father, a wealthy Jewish merchant. To deal with family debts, Rosina places a classified ad in a local newspaper and gets a job as a nanny with a gentile family in Scotland. Adopting the name Mary Blackchurch and posing as a gentile, she joins the dysfunctional Cavendish family, caring for young Clementina (Florence Hoath) and fending off the advances of teen Henry (Jonathan Rhys Meyers). Head of the household is philologist and inventor Charles Cavendish (Tom Wilkinson), and when she gives Charles an assist on his photographic experiments, an affair develops. The music score features Eastern percussion backing singer Ofra Haza. Shown at the 1998 Seattle Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

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Starring:
Minnie Driver, Tom Wilkinson, (more)
Director(s):
Sandra Goldbacher
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
R
Format(s):
DVD
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Synopsis of The Governess

London TV commercials director Sandra Goldbacher made her feature directorial debut with this early Victorian England drama filmed on the Isle of Arran. In London, Rosina Da Silva (Minnie Driver) is shaken by the murder of her father, a wealthy Jewish merchant. To deal with family debts, Rosina places a classified ad in a local newspaper and gets a job as a nanny with a gentile family in Scotland. Adopting the name Mary Blackchurch and posing as a gentile, she joins the dysfunctional Cavendish family, caring for young Clementina (Florence Hoath) and fending off the advances of teen Henry (Jonathan Rhys Meyers). Head of the household is philologist and inventor Charles Cavendish (Tom Wilkinson), and when she gives Charles an assist on his photographic experiments, an affair develops. The music score features Eastern percussion backing singer Ofra Haza. Shown at the 1998 Seattle Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

Theatrical Feature Running Time:
105 mins

Complete Cast of The Governess


Director(s):
Sandra Goldbacher
Writer(s):
Sandra Goldbacher
Producer(s):
Sarah Curtis
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
R(Sexual Situations, Adult Situations)
Categories:
Romance
Warning:  This product is intended for mature audiences only. It may contain violence, sexual content, drug abuse and/or strong language. You must be 17 or older to purchase it. By ordering this item you are certifying that you are at least 17 years of age.

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    Jason T.

    This one is very engrossing. The main character, Rosina, played by Minnie Driver, is fascinating and complex, and her story is filled with realistic, historical events. Her hiding of her Jewish identity adds drama and mystery to the plot, and the other characters, including the girl whom Rosina tutors and Charles, the man of the house, chemist, and photographic inventor, are all well-developed and intriguing. Rosina and Charles' relationship, the scientific experiments, and other developments in the Victorian home unfold in exciting and unexpected ways as one is transported to another time and place. Those who appreciated "The Man Who Cried" (with Christina Ricci and John Turturro) and "The Majestic" (with Jim Carrey and Martin Landau) will probably be inspired by this film.

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    Dessa M.

    Minnie Driver is always a pleasure to watch in any story, and she does an excellent job as a bright, intelligent young woman who has to take a position as a Governess to help support her family after the death of her father. She lives in an era where women are not considered to be of much account in a man's world, and she proves herself to be so much more than the average, brainless female. She is interesting, funny and very smart, and enters into her employers scientific world without fuss or fanfare, and makes herself indispensable in ways beyond a mere lover and female.

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    Mandie E.

    Minnie Driver is wonderfully twisted in this movie. The movie is a little slow in some parts but it is definitely worth watching. If you enjoyed Vanity Fair or Girl with a Pearl Earring you will enjoy watching this.

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