The White Countess

2005 2h 15m EN

😐

6.2

MID

★6.2TMDB · 88

DramaRomanceWar

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In 1930s Shanghai, 'The White Countess' is both Sofia, a fallen member of the exiled Russian aristocracy, and a nightclub created by a blind American diplomat who asks Sofia to be the centerpiece of the world he wants to create.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Ralph Fiennes
Todd Jackson
Natasha Richardson
Countess Sofia Belinskya
Hiroyuki Sanada
Matsuda
Lynn Redgrave
Olga Belinskya
Vanessa Redgrave
Princess Vera Belinskya
Madeleine Potter
Grushenka
Madeleine Daly
Katya
Allan Corduner
Samuel Feinstein

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: James Ivory
Writers: Kazuo Ishiguro
Languages: Russian, Japanese, French, Mandarin, English
Countries: China, Germany, United States of America, United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 26% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 21 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 5 languages: Russian, Japanese, French, Mandarin, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 4 countries: China, Germany, United States of America, United Kingdom.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by James Ivory, shot by Christopher Doyle. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Richard Robbins. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor John David Allen shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Ralph Fiennes and Natasha Richardson and Hiroyuki Sanada carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

James Ivory directs. Christopher Doyle behind the camera. Richard Robbins scores. John David Allen cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in China, Germany, United States of America, United Kingdom. Dialogue in Russian, Japanese, French, Mandarin, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 26% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
2Released 21 years ago.
3Dialogue crosses 5 languages: Russian, Japanese, French, Mandarin, English.
4International production across 4 countries: China, Germany, United States of America, United Kingdom.
5Directed by James Ivory, shot by Christopher Doyle. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Richard Robbins. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor John David Allen shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Ralph Fiennes and Natasha Richardson and Hiroyuki Sanada carry the top of the cast.
9IMDB entry: tt0384686 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Only 88 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
11Classified under 16 themes, including "shanghai, china", "countess", "american abroad", "air raid".