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| Dutch painting from 1678, could have been used as source material for the costumes. |
I picked The Serpent's Kiss because I like the work of Ewan McGregor and I had never heard of the film.
Set in the William and Mary period of 1699, wealthy English landowner Thomas Smithers (Pete Postlethwaite)
brings in Dutch landscape designer Meneer Chrome (Ewan McGregor), who had been recommended by his wife's cousin, to create an
elaborate garden which will "tame nature" and showcase his
house. Early on we have clues that Chrome may not be who he pretends he is. But
he proves he knows plants and can name plant fragrance after fragrance even when blindfolded.
He also can recognize the different scents of the mistress's perfumes.
Daughter Thea or Anna (Carmen Chaplin) changes her name according to her mood. Thea seems quite mad
and dreams of being cut down by the handsome reaper using his scythe around the
estate. Under a doctor's grotesque 17th century care of leeches and heated cups, she longs to run wild in the estate's forest.
Wife Julianna (Greta
Scacchi) is dissatisfied with her life at the estate and welcomes the new
stranger. Julianna's cousin, James Fitzmaurice (Richard Grant)--an Iago in the
making--manipulates the building of the garden in an attempt to bankrupt his
cousin's husband and exact revenge--for what we are not certain.
Chrome's garden is filled with logic and symmetry. When asked if there will be flowers in his garden, he explains it will be filled with man-made creations--walls, gravel walks, statues, and metal constructions. Later he even adds a large greenhouse for exotic plants.
When the garden is finished, Thea picks a dandelion from a path and as she blows the seeds, the wind picks up and as it building in a fury destroys the garden.
The film resolves itself in high 18th century melodramatic fashion, with the villain ironically punished and order being restored.
The costumes are sumptuous and evocative of period. And the mise en scene of the estate has the look of new money.
Chrome's garden is filled with logic and symmetry. When asked if there will be flowers in his garden, he explains it will be filled with man-made creations--walls, gravel walks, statues, and metal constructions. Later he even adds a large greenhouse for exotic plants.
When the garden is finished, Thea picks a dandelion from a path and as she blows the seeds, the wind picks up and as it building in a fury destroys the garden.
The film resolves itself in high 18th century melodramatic fashion, with the villain ironically punished and order being restored.
The costumes are sumptuous and evocative of period. And the mise en scene of the estate has the look of new money.
The plot reminded me of the
1982 film, The Draughtsman’s Contract, set in the same historical time period, where a cocky artist is hired by the
wife of a wealthy landowner to produce twelve drawings. As he produces them, he
realizes they may actually tell the story of the murder of the absent
landowner. The Draughtsman’s Contract, however, is much more cynical than The Serpent’s
Kiss.
In all, I recommend The Serpent's Kiss, especially if you like the work of Ewan McGregor and Greta
Scacchi.
The Serpent’s Kiss (1997)
****
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