The White Countess

Details

A beautifully crafted romantic drama with a magnificent cast, The White Countess marks the final outing from the successful partnership of producer Ismail Merchant and director James Ivory (Howard's End, Remains of the Day). It is available to buy and rent on DVD from 21st August 2006, courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Starring Academy Award nominee Ralph Fiennes (Schindler's List, The Constant Gardener), Natasha RichardSON (The Parent Trap, Maid in Manhattan) plus Academy Award winner Vanessa Redgrave (Howard's End) and Academy Award nominee Lynn Redgrave (Gods and Monsters), and written by acclaimed author Kazuo IshigURO (The Remains of the Day), this film has an incredible pedigree.

Set in 1930's post war Shanghai, Sofia (Richardson), a refugee Russian countess, is forced to work as a dancer and hostess in nightclubs to support her late husband's family. Todd Jackson (Fiennes), a blind US diplomat, meets her in a bar and the two form a tentative relationship.

When he opens up his own bar - The White Countess - he makes her its hostess and an unsteady future begins. But Todd is still tortured by the death of his wife and child and Sofia is facing rejection from within her own family. The situation explodes when Japanese invaders raid the city and threaten everyone's dreams.

The White Countess is also available to buy as part of The Merchant Ivory Box Set, together with the masterpiece period dramas Remains of The Day and Howards End.