Fresno Filmworks' 2nd Annual World Film Festival
Friday, Saturday, Sunday
May 5, 6, 7, 2006

The White Countess
Saturday May 6, 2006
8:00 pm
The Tower Theatre
815 E. Olive Avenue, Fresno
Festival passes:
$40 - Festival Pass includes all films & invitation to Opening Night Champagne Reception
$20 - Opening Night Film & Opening Night Champagne Reception
$10 - General tickets
$8 - Student & Senior tickets

Synopsis

The White Countess marks the finale to the collaboration between Ismail Merchant (who died just before the film's completion) and James Ivory that spanned forty-four years and produced more than thirty films. Set in Shanghai in the late 1930s, this is the story of the relationship between a disillusioned former U.S. diplomat (Ralph Fiennes) and a refugee White Russian countess (Natasha Richardson) reduced to a sordid life in the city's bars. The sweeping backdrop of political strife and impending war is a departure from the intimate dramas that Merchant Ivory so often created. Co-starring with Fiennes and Richardson are Vanessa and Lynn Redgrave.

Directed by James Ivory
2005, UK/USA
Rated PG-13
35mm; 138 min.

Reviews for The White Countess

"As the last film from the legendary team of Ivory and producer Ismail Merchant, who died in May, The White Countess is a stirring tribute to Merchant, a true builder of dreams in an industry now sorely bereft of his unique spirit."
-- Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

"It's a very classy, finely made film, and, as one watches it -- particularly those last sweeping scenes of political turbulence and escape -- one feels both pain at their parting and grateful for what, together, they achieved."
-- Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

Advance tickets may be purchased at the following locations: Fig Garden Books in Fig Garden Village Shopping Center, The Movies located at 1435 N. Van Ness and the Tower Theatre Box Office, and all TicketMaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com or at 485-TIXS

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