In Victorian England, wealthy patriarch Sir Harald Alabaster invites an impoverished biologist, William Adamson, into his home. There, William tries to continue his work, but is distracted by Alabaster's seductive daughter, Eugenia. William and Eugenia begin a torrid romance, but as the couple become closer, the young scientist begins to realize that dark, disturbing things are happening behind the closed doors of the Alabaster manor.
Rated 4.2 / 5 from 3 logs on Katalog
The kind of movie I could watch over and over again because it's so delicate, while hiding such insidiousness. Mark Rylance is so calming, and Kristin Scott Thomas an icon. The analogies of insects portrayed throughout are wonderful. It's less "dramatic" than other similar movies, but that's why I like it. It's a little snapshot of a privileged elite, and everything is believable and lived in. The whole thing feels effortless. Lovely.
A poor, adventurous naturalist marries and settles into a wealthy family manor in Victorian England and things start getting a bit… Victorian. I wish I had a fraction of the calm this man has, truly something to aspire to. Mark Rylance and Kristin Scott Thomas are phenomenal. It’s such a joy to watch actors so talented in their earlier days or lesser known movies. The costumes are so damn gorgeous and creative in referencing the insect theme. It’s an interesting combination of unsettling Victorian atmosphere and sharp and, at times, disturbing social commentary, and it got me curious about the novella it’s based on (“Morpho Eugenia” (1992) by A. S. Byatt, I feel like I should have known her work already). Thank you @kkaya for reviewing this movie I would have otherwise probably never heard about!!
There are many things I love about this mostly forgotten little movie. It’s just such a filthy and disturbing love story, but visually it’s so striking and beautiful. My favourite parts are the analogies of an aristocratic household with an ant colony/the insect world. The Alabaster estate is mostly run by a portly matriarch who churns out little blonde Alabasters while servants tend to her and bring food. The servants dart around in the corridors, and the costumes often reflect gorgeous, shimmering insect motifs and colours. The main story is an intrigue about an outsider, a natural scientist in the 1850s whose life intertwines with the lives of the family, while their secrets fester beneath all the material wealth they display. Worth a watch for people who like darker period films or if you’re looking for something that defies many conventions of the genre.
