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Anna and the King, 1999, 147 minutes, Rated PG-13
By Lisa Patrick
The diary of Anna Leonowens, the source material for Anna and the King,
inherently limits the story. We see everything, including the King (Chow Yun-Fat), through
Anna’s eyes. Anna Leonowens (Jodie Foster) is an Englishwoman arriving in 1862 Siam
(modern-day Thailand) from British India to teach the King’s many children.
Anna’s outlook expresses the contradictory qualities of imperialist superior, wonder
and compassion probably typical for a woman of her background and time. For instance, she
is outraged at slavery in Siam and goes so far as to trade her late husband’s wedding
ring for a slave’s freedom and covertly encourages the King’s oldest son to read
Uncle Tom’s Cabin. And yet, there is no similar discussion surrounding the two Indian
servants she brings with her from India who appear at her beck and call. |
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20th Cent. Fox
Chow Yun-Fat
& Jodie Foster
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Despite the story’s limits, Chow
Yun-Fat does a tremendous job of bringing us into his Siam. He wants Siam to take its
place among the modern world, but he has traditions to adhere to, many of which help him
maintain authority over his subjects. Well-illustrated by the film is the risk the King
runs in allowing Anna influence over him. Anna is not subtle in how and what she speaks to
the King. To our modern ears, what she says may have merit; but, she seems oddly ignorant
about undercutting the King’s authority and making him appear weaker because of it.
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Overall, Anna and the King was
surprisingly brutal, as well as amazingly moving. Another surprise is the
personal/romantic relationship between Anna and the King. By today’s standards, it
was extremely reserved - their only physical contact was during two waltzes. They are
certainly attracted to one another, but their respective cultural backgrounds discourage a
mutually satisfying relationship. Nevertheless, love they do.
M
January 2000
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