About A Room With a View

A ‘Room with a View’, is a British drama-romantic film adaptation of E.M. Foster’s novel with the same title. Set in the Edwardian Era of England and Italy, the plot majorly revolves around a young woman named Lucy Honeychurch, who navigates through the complexities of societal norms, love, and finding her individuality.

Making / Production

The movie was directed by James Ivory, produced by Ismail Merchant and the screenplay was written by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. The movie was produced by Merchant Ivory Productions, who are famous for their period drama adaptations.

Actors

• Helena Bonham Carter as Lucy Honeychurch - The young protagonist, she brilliantly portrays her character's journey from naivety to self-discovery.
• Julian Sands as George Emerson - Sands plays an idealist young man who challenges Lucy's conventional upbringing and beliefs.
• Maggie Smith as Charlotte Bartlett - Smith, playing Lucy's overbearing cousin, skillfully brings humor and complexity to her role.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• A Room With a View was filmed in Florence, Italy and in the counties of Kent and Surrey in England.
• The movie is one of Helena Bonham Carter's earliest roles, setting the stage for her later works in period dramas.
• Despite being set in the Victorian Age, the movie subtly comments on 20th century British class and gender dynamics.

Awards

The movie was well-received and won three Academy Awards in 1987 for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design. It was also nominated for five other categories including Best Picture and Best Director.

Quotes

• "It’s the pensione, to be sure, it’s as they say, picturesque, but hardly comfortable."
• "Life is easy to chronicle, but bewildering to practice."
• "Youth enwrapped them; the song of Phaethon announced passion requited, love attained."

Music / Soundtrack

• "O mio babbino caro" - from Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini
• "The Pensione Bertollini" - Richard Robbins
• "Lucy, Charlotte and Miss Lavish See the City" - Richard Robbins