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Review

Set against the splendor of breathtaking Venice, love and romantic deceit blossom in the most unexpected ways in this beautifully realized, haunting version of Henry James' novel. Directed with delicate precision and unnerving melancholy by Softley, The Wings of the Dove soars as both a psychological study of conflicted emotions, and a love story gone awry. Bonham Carter is spellbinding as Kate Croy, an aristocrat who has been forbidden to see her lover Merton Densher (Roache), a handsome, working-class journalist. Their affair is put on hold until the arrival of Millie Theale (Elliott), a dying American heiress who is befriended by Kate and smitten with Merton. When they all take a trip to Venice, it is there Kate plots to bring her lover and best friend together. James has never been this satisfying on-screen, and Hossein Amini's smart, fluid screenplay, Softley's sensitivity, and a superb ensemble leave little doubt as to why. Roache is outstanding as Merton, an honorable man tested by the boundaries of decency; and Elliott gives a subtle portrayal of a spirited woman curtailed by a body less willing.