This is no ordinary fantasy tale. This is fate that is crossing between a soldier and a congregation of women and girls in the middle of the American Civil War. Watching the trailer, I was a bit excited about this movie because it looked like a chess game of charm and deception. Plus, it is directed by Sofia Coppola, a person who is also contributing to a year of female directors getting opportunities to make their own projects. It is fantastic. However, she has been in the directing game for a while. Even though it is a remake of the 1971 Don Siegel movie starring Clint Eastwood, the movie is ambitious and impeccably artful, but the narrative is surprisingly thin and juggles so many themes it reaches that the thriller aspect is lost.
The movie starts in the middle of the American Civil War in 1864 as almost all of the slaves, teachers and students have left to get away from trouble and potential death. Miss Farnsworth (Nicole Kidman), teacher Edwina Morrow (Kirsten Dunst) and five other students stayed behind in the girls school in Mississippi. While out in the woods, one of the students, Amy (Oona Laurence), comes across an injured corporal named John McBurney (Colin Farrell), whose leg is bleeding to death and he falls unconscious. The women lock McBurney in one of the rooms as Miss Farnsworth tend to his rooms.
All of the women and girls are attracted to this man as they fight for his attention and affection. They give him presents, wear jewelry and prepare a fancy dinner for him. As McBurney starts to get better, he helps out with gardening and also is clear that he fears returning to the war. He becomes flirtatious to every woman and girl and being manipulative to serve his own interests and continues receiving attention. It is clear from Farnsworth's point of view that he wants to stay and get away from the war. But, unfortunate circumstances have the tables turned as it turns into a raging and uncomfortable situation.
This movie is a hodgepodge of events and themes that are quite fascinating but then turns into a flat thriller in the second half of the movie where the story is going through the motions. The first half was quite slow-burning and subtle as the women and girls in the household are in this fancy, educational persona but half of the females release a sort of sexual awakening as they have not witnessed a man up close as they are fascinated by his looks. But, each of the elderly females have a different personality. Miss Farnsworth is the primary caregiver who is titled as sort of the motherly figure who gets to the point. Miss Morrow is the shy teacher who is definitely attracted to him but cannot release her emotions. And, Alicia, played by Elle Fanning, is probably going through a stage of what romance would seem like, but not what it is.
However, the idea is fascinating but the narrative is thin as mostly the ideas and tones are taking over the story. The visual cinematography by Philippe Le Sourd is quite illuminating and crisp as it displays an aura of how women are represented during the Civil War era. It is like a painting. But, the cinematography and the performances are the stars of the film. Colin Farrell shows a quiet display of charm and loud display of claustrophobic tension that you buy him as a soldier who wants fortune and attention. However, his character is not executed too well. Nicole Kidman gives another strong performance as the teacher. Elle Fanning is great (and not giving away spoilers) as a person who is both a provider and a victim of the situation. But, Kirsten Dunst surprised me as she portrays a graceful teacher who wants to provide the good deeds to take care of him but notices some hidden agenda in Farrell's character.
Director Sofia Coppola has an inconsistent filmography where she started out strong with The Virgin Suicides and Lost in Translation (her best movie) and then has served movies that have compelling themes but not compelling stories (maybe except Somewhere). This is another movie that has compelling themes and performance but not a compelling and thrilling story that will get leave with you many thoughts. This movie is defined as a painting that looks like a masterpiece but does not quite resonate any emotion. It left me a bit cold.
**1/2
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