This adaptation of Thomas Cullinan's 1966 novel, directed by Sofia Coppola, is full of intrigue and passion.
For her work as screenwriter and director, Coppola won the Palme d'Or Best Director Award — only the second female to do so. It is the second film adaptation, first brought to the screen by director Don Siegel in 1971.
Siegel's film was rooted in psychodrama, filled with sinewy monologue and paranoia as a central theme. Coppola's direction is sly and ethereal — almost feeling like fantasy at times. She closely follows the narrative of the original film but the story is directly told from the perspective of the women, which was not the case in the original.
The film stars Nicole Kidman, Colin Farrell, Kirsten Dunst and Elle Fanning — a dynamic cast that all perform incredibly well in their respective roles. The story surrounds a wounded Union soldier who is stranded alone in enemy terrain during the American Civil War.
He throws himself on the mercy of a ladies' seminary. These women, so starved of male company, collectively experience a sexual nervous breakdown. Sounds riveting. Well, it holds well. It has ambience, a good score and dialogue is delivered well by the stars of the film.
