Status

The Remains of the Day (1993)

Producer/Director team Merchant Ivory adapt the novel of the same name for screen staring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson. During the inter war period the lord of the manor tries to secure peace for Britain with Germany while the butler and housekeeper have an unrequited relationship.

What this film is mainly about is the constraints of social status and position, because of his professional role the butler has become unable to express his feelings either to the housekeeper or to the lord of the house on politics. The script and story are really well crafted and work well without being melodramatic, where the film falls down is I honestly have no idea what the housekeeper sees in the butler. If you can suspend your disbelief on that issue though this is a really good film.

4/5