Besieged (1999)
78%RT Audience Score:
Awards & Nominations: NA
Bernardo Bertolucci’s Besieged is a film that is both sensory and sensual, handmade with exquisite visuals that are deeply engrossing. The story, while allusive and delicate, works well for those who are sympathetic to Bertolucci’s intentions. However, the film’s attempts at self-referential sequences and political commentary often fall flat, substituting clarity for woolliness and real emotion for mere atmospherics. Despite this, the well-acted performances by Thandie Newton and David Thewlis make this modestly scaled drama a gift worth unwrapping. Bertolucci conjures magic once again with his visually creative filmmaking, even if the love story itself breaks no new ground.
BESIEGED” is a movie that’s like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re going to get. Some critics loved it, some hated it, and some were just plain confused. But hey, isn’t that what art is all about? Bertolucci’s film about a British musician and his African housekeeper is a visual feast, with stunning cinematography and a sensual atmosphere that will leave you feeling like you need a cold shower. Thandie Newton and David Thewlis give great performances, and the story is both delicate and allusive. Sure, it’s not for everyone, but if you’re in the mood for something a little different, “BESIEGED” might just be the perfect movie for you.
Production Company(ies)
Paramount Pictures,
Distributor
Fine Line Features
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Rome, Lazio, Italy
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for brief sexuality
Year of Release
1999
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.66 : 1
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Runtime:1h 34m
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Language(s):English, Italian, Swahili
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Country of origin:United Kingdom
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): May 21, 1999 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 21, 1999
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Thandie Newton, David Thewlis, Claudio Santamaria, Massimo De Rossi, Cyril Nri, Paul Osul, directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, written by James Lasdun, Bernardo Bertolucci, Clare Peploe, drama, R rating, box office performance, $2.0M gross USA, reviewed by Lisa Schwarzbaum, Derek Elley, Jeff Millar, Rick Groen, Sally Chatsworth, Daniel Mangin, Emanuel Levy, Mark Halverson, Sandra Contreras, Carol Cling, Thandie Newton as Shandurai, David Thewlis as Jason Kinsky, Massimo Cortesi as producer, Fine Line Features as distributor, surround sound mix, political intrigue, free spirit, immigrant, composer, medical student, part-time maid, passion, jealousy, love, Africa, England, romance, drama
Worldwide gross: $2,048,740
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,677,545
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,263
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 401,041
US/Canada gross: $2,048,740
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,677,545
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,892
US/Canada opening weekend: $159,289
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $285,928
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,556
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
David Thewlis – Jason Kinsky
Claudio Santamaria – Agostino
Massimo De Rossi
Cyril Nri
Paul Osul
Director(s)
Bernardo Bertolucci
Writer(s)
James Lasdun, Bernardo Bertolucci, Clare Peploe
Producer(s)
Massimo Cortesi
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (47) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (35) | Rotten (12)
September 7, 2011 | Rating: A-
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
Bertolucci and co-writer Clare Peploe seem intent on deconstructing the story’s interesting elements at every turn, substituting woolliness for clarity, atmospherics for real emotion and an often condescending, armchair-liberal naivete for real political
December 7, 2007
Derek Elley
Variety
TOP CRITIC
This is a deeply engrossing, often exquisite film by someone who knows visuals. It’s sensory, sensual, handmade.
July 21, 2005
Jeff Millar
Houston Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
What an unexpected gift.
March 19, 2002 | Rating: 4/4
Rick Groen
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
Does this allusive, delicate story work? The answer is yes, provided you are sympathetic with what Bertolucci is trying to do.
March 5, 2002
Sally Chatsworth
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
Given Bertolucci’s impish leanings, the self-referential sequences may merely be gags. If so, they’re among a half-dozen others that backfire.
December 19, 2001
Daniel Mangin
Salon.com
TOP CRITIC
Made for Italian TV, this modestly scaled, intimate drama about the relationship between a British musician and his African housekeeper is well acted by Thandie Newton and David Thewlis.
December 4, 2010 | Rating: B
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review
Maddening on many fronts and strangely wordless, Bernardo Bertolucci’s purported love story breaks no new ground.
December 7, 2007 | Rating: 2/4
Sandra Contreras
TV Guide
Bertolucci conjures magic once again.
February 10, 2006 | Rating: 5/5
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal
July 1, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Visually creative filmmaking.
May 28, 2005
Michael E. Grost
Classic Film and Television…
Plot
When an African dictator jails her husband, Shandurai goes into exile in Italy, studying medicine and keeping house for Mr. Kinsky, an eccentric English pianist and composer. She lives in one room of his Roman palazzo. He besieges her with flowers, gifts, and music, declaring passionately that he loves her, would go to Africa with her, would do anything for her. “What do you know of Africa?,” she asks, then, in anguish, shouts, “Get my husband out of jail!” The rest of the film plays out the implications of this scene and leaves Shandurai with a choice.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found in the Fresh Kernels database for Besieged.
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