What it’s about
Traveling in Italy with protective spinster cousin Charlotte (Smith) at the dawn of the twentieth century, beautiful English maiden Lucy Honeychurch (Bonham-Carter) meets and falls for the dashing, free-spirited George Emerson (Sands). Witnessing their stolen kiss high above Florence, disapproving Charlotte goads her to return to England, where Lucy is eventually courted by the stiff, conventional Cecil Vyse (Day-Lewis). Yet her passions are aroused again when Emerson moves nearby.
Why we love it
One of the finest creations coming out of the longstanding Merchant/Ivory alliance, “Room With a View” is a stunningly evocative romance lovingly adapted by screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala from the book by E.M. Forster. Nominated for eight Academy Awards, the film boasts dazzling sets and costumes, along with note-perfect early turns by Merchant/Ivory regular Bonham-Carter and an uncharacteristically priggish Day-Lewis. Don’t miss this lush, smart and sumptuous cinematic treat.
Helena Bonham-Carter, Maggie Smith, Daniel Day-Lewis, Julian Sands James Ivory