The Portrait of a Lady

1996 2h 24m EN

😐

5.9

MID

★5.9TMDB · 267

DramaRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Ms. Isabel Archer isn't afraid to challenge societal norms. Impressed by her free spirit, her kindhearted cousin writes her into his fatally ill father's will. Suddenly rich and independent, Isabelle ventures into the world, along the way befriending a cynical intellectual and romancing an art enthusiast. However, the advantage of her affluence is called into question when she realizes the extent to which her money colors her relationships.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Nicole Kidman
Isabel Archer
John Malkovich
Gilbert Osmond
Barbara Hershey
Madame Serena Merle
Mary-Louise Parker
Henrietta Stackpole
Christian Bale
Edward Rosier
Shelley Winters
Mrs. Touchett
Richard E. Grant
Lord Warburton
Shelley Duvall
Countess Gemini

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jane Campion
Writers: Laura Jones
Languages: Italian, English
Countries: Italy, United Kingdom, United States of America

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

ERA

Did you know

30 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Italian, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: Italy, United Kingdom, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Jane Campion, shot by Stuart Dryburgh. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Nicole Kidman and John Malkovich and Barbara Hershey carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0117364 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jane Campion directs. Stuart Dryburgh behind the camera. Wojciech Kilar scores. Veronika Jenet cuts. Produced in Italy, United Kingdom, United States of America. Dialogue in Italian, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

130 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Italian, English.
3International production across 3 countries: Italy, United Kingdom, United States of America.
4Directed by Jane Campion, shot by Stuart Dryburgh. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Wojciech Kilar. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Veronika Jenet shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Nicole Kidman and John Malkovich and Barbara Hershey carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0117364 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 11 themes, including "friendship", "based on novel or book", "intellectual", "manipulation".
10Released under 26 different titles around the world.