Merchant Ivory Productions, the collaboration of James Ivory, director, Ismail Merchant, producer, and Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, screenwriter, is responsible for such films as “Room With a View” and “Howard’s End.”
This partnership began in the mid-’60s and ended during the filming of “Countess,” when Ismail Merchant died following a brief illness. Their films were known for their visual beauty and intelligent themes, and “The White Countess” is no exception.
The film tells the story of two expatriates in Shanghai. Fiennes plays Todd Jackson, a former diplomat, blinded in an explosion that killed his wife and daughter. He dreams of opening the perfect bar — where the clientele is well read, elegantly attired and cosmopolitan, but he has no money to start a business.
One evening, while drinking in the seedy bar he frequents, he meets the Countess Sofia Belinsky (Natasha Richardson, Vanessa Redgrave’s daughter). She sees that Jackson is about to be robbed in the bar, and foils the theft.
Exiled from Russia, and living with her daughter Katya (Madeleine Daly), her Aunt Sara (Vanessa Redgrave), and mother-in-law Olga (Lynn Redgrave), Sofia must support them as a taxi dancer and sometime-prostitute.
At the same time that she works to feed them, they disrespect her and try to keep her daughter away from her. Jackson sees in Sofia that she is different and senses in her a quiet sadness and perfection.
When Todd Jackson wins big at the track, he opens his perfect bar with the right crowd, the best jazz, and great bouncers, and names it The White Countess. He hires Sofia to work for him in the role of hostess, buys her a beautiful wardrobe and saves her from her drudgery. Before long, Jackson and Sofia begin to fall in love.
The bar becomes the site of political intrigue, reminiscent of Rick’s Place in “Casablanca.” We learn that Jackson had once worked for the League of Nations, and his friend, Matsuda, may be helping the Japanese government with their plans to invade China. Soon everyone is caught up in the drama and chaos of the invasion.
“The White Countess” shows Friday, April 14, through Monday, April 17, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday also at 2:30 p.m.
Rated PG – 13 for violent images and thematic elements, the film runs 2 hours, 18 mins.
Matinee tickets are $6, evenings are $7.
The movies are shown in big screen format with Digital Surround Sound.
The Sunrise is located at 250 NW Broad Street in downtown Southern Pines.
Bottled water, soft drinks, beer, wine, candy, nuts and popcorn with real butter are on sale.
For more information, call (910) 692-3611 or go to www. sunrisetheater.com.
