Rating: 
Summary: Intense and disturbing
Review: I would not recommend this for most people. It is painful to watch and artificial, very stagy (not surprising since it was adapted from a stage play written by Ariel Dorfman), and ultimately not redemptive (as the video jacket claims), but perverse and depressing.Sigourney Weaver gives a raw-edged performance almost entirely in one key. She plays a woman (Pauline Escobar) who was raped and tortured by a Nazi-like doctor named Roberto Miranda played by Ben Kingsley in some unidentified South American country. Since Dorfman is from Argentina, we'll assume it's Argentina. Certainly this sort of thing happened there during the time of the "Disappeared." The other member of the three-person cast is her husband (Gerardo Escobar) played by Stuart Wilson. Roman Polanski directed. The title comes from Franz Schubert's string quartet of the same name which was played by the doctor as he tortured Pauline. This is a polarizing film. Women who have ever suffered anything at the hands of men will identify with Weaver's character and may find the film brilliant. Most men will not even be able to watch it. There is some ambiguity in the ending, as to whether Roberto really was guilty as charged. My opinion is that he was without doubt. The final scene (which I can't describe since it would give away too much) is really a statement about the nature of horror and how it can live on amidst the most familiar settings, a man patting his son on the head, some people attending a concert. I thought Wilson gave the most balanced performance. He had the most difficult role since it required subtlety and that he walk a fine line between accepting something monstrous in his presence or disbelieving his wife. He also had to be a weak sister, as it were, to the dominating presence of Sigourney Weaver who played most of the film with a gun in her hand. Yet he had to provide the strength of character and to symbolize the sense of justice. Kingsley looked very much the part of a sneaky little man, and his usual caged intensity was much in evidence. Bottom line: any film that exposes the atrocities committed by the right wing dictatorships that dominated South and Central American during the Cold War is on the side of the angels; however most viewers I think will find this too intense and disturbing. Beware of some crude sexuality.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Acting, Good Sound, Good Images, and Heavy Story
Review: One of what I consider the best movies. I just want to warn you that this movie deals with torturing a child sexually although the scene does not show it, in case you would like to avoid that topic.
The actors are acting so well that it feels almost real. What amazes me most is the fact that there are only three persons acting in the movie. With only three persons so much is going on, and story evolves, never letting me bored. This movie is very interesting, but I wouldn't watch it when I am in a gloomy mood. Also I would not show this movie to any child or young person.
This movie is about an intense anger/resentment and forgiveness. I do not know if it is realistic for a woman to be that courageous. The story itself, together with the excellent acting is quite intense, and I would not say it is entertaining, but it is a good movie.
No revenge can satisfy you, then what do you do? This movie is about forgiving unforgivable.
Rating:
Summary: A moral crossroad!
Review: Polanski as images maker is unique . He is a superb film maker and in this case this notable adaptation of the Ariel Dorfman play .
First at all , the emotive nervous is powerful and only a talented director and an admirabble cast could take this material and become in an unforgettable film .
Sigorney Weaver has made the best and finest acting of his career with this haunting story .
Since her husband Gerard (Sam wilkinson) is hired to investigate a lot of political issues , he will meet to Miranda (Ben Kingsley), and for those curious coincidences she is really surprised due that voice sounds her familiar .
This initial suspect will turn in the awful true that will reveal the crudeness , the insanity and the excess of a merciless and absence of any scruple in the Government represive forces .
Watch the film coda in which we will see the couple in a Hall Concert listening the death and the maiden this glorious quartet of Franz Schubert . That cross of sights , seem to vanish , ignore and rejoin themselves in a final which states clearly several issues.
First there is in the air the attempt to sacrifice in the name of a future free of revenge , the right spirit of justice and prevailing of the truth .
But there is the sense of blame of Gerard concerned with the fact of avoiding to croos the line and not going to the last consequences of the investigation , in contrats with her who to her own way established her own behavior and punishment code out off record .
Watch that shocking and haunting film . One of the most remarkable films of that decade and an artistic triumph in itself .
Rating: 
Summary: Polanski Does it Again`
Review: Roman Polanski's most recent film proves that he still has the talent for suspense he displayed in "Chinatown". This is an extremely intriguing and sometimes bold film that you won't forget right away. From the taunt beginning to the nail-biting end, you won't be able to take your eyes off this masterpiece until the credits start to roll.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Kingsley performance but a cookie-cutter ending
Review: The majority of this high rating is due to Kingsley's riveting performance; even when he is just pacing in the background he dominates the screen. He absolutely steals the picture, and he will have you guessing even past the end.
IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT OR DON'T WANT THE ENDING SPOILED, READ NO FURTHER
I didn't like the ending. Even though I was convinced of Kingsley's innocence, when it turned out he was guilty it was really no surprise, because come on, what would you expect? In a suspense movie where a seemingly innocent person accused by another of being a villain, gee, what happens at the end? In spite of all his denials, he turns out to be guilty. A better ending would have been if it had turned out Weaver's character was simply paranoid and had been wrong the whole time. But then we wouldn't have had Kingsley's Lorre-esque final monologue, so I suppose it all worked out.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Kingsley performance but a cookie-cutter ending
Review: The majority of this high rating is due to Kingsley's riveting performance; even when he is just pacing in the background he dominates the screen. He absolutely steals the picture, and he will have you guessing even past the end.
IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT OR DON'T WANT THE ENDING SPOILED, READ NO FURTHER
I didn't like the ending. Even though I was convinced of Kingsley's innocence, when it turned out he was guilty it was really no surprise, because come on, what would you expect? In a suspense movie where a seemingly innocent person accused by another of being a villain, gee, what happens at the end? In spite of all his denials, he turns out to be guilty. A better ending would have been if it had turned out Weaver's character was simply paranoid and had been wrong the whole time. But then we wouldn't have had Kingsley's Lorre-esque final monologue, so I suppose it all worked out.
Rating:
Summary: fine cast, good script, dramatic and thought provoking
Review: The story of a torture victim of no small amount of character who believes she recognises her torturer and sets out to confront him. To add to the depth of the plot her husband is a lawyer working for the government and appointee to a commission to investigate the allegations of torture being voiced by people like his wife. Sigourney Weaver plays the troubled woman coming to terms with trauma while her husband and her captor face the truth. Taking place over a single evening at a remote country house this film steps around the prevarications and bureaucracy of officialdom. Adapted from a play and set in unspecified country, the victims view of justice is thoroughly explored. Torture is not an easy subject to tell about and the story makes clear what crimes were committed so it contains strong descriptions. This film gives a deep meaning to closure.
Rating: 
Summary: Wanted to like this movie but......
Review: There was something about this movie that was boring. I don't think the acting was anything special and Ms. Weaver...well. .She just didn't come across as a victim to me. The movie just didn't hang together. Others have given it rave reviews but I can't.
Rating:
Summary: Sad and serious and ultimately meaningful on many levels
Review: This 1994 film was adapted from a play by Argentinean playwright Ariel Dorfman and was directed by Roman Polanski. Set in an unnamed South American country, three people are thrown together in an isolated house on a dark and stormy night. The woman, played by Sigourney Weaver is clearly troubled and sad. Her husband, played by Stuart Wilson, is late for dinner. Turns out he had a flat tire and a stranger helped him out. That stranger, who is a doctor, played by Ben Kingsley, soon befriends the husband. The woman thinks the stranger is the man who tortured her while she was a political prisoner many years before.
There is a new kinder and gentler government now, which is investigating atrocities from the past. The woman's husband is in charge of the investigation, which is basically focused on identifying bodies and is giving amnesty to many of the worst criminals. Naturally this complicates the situation.
What follows is not a simple story though because, throughout, questions are raised that have no easy answers. Is the doctor really the torturer or an innocent man? After all, it all happened at least ten or more years in the past and the woman has never actually seen her torturer's face as she had been blindfolded the whole time. The doctor declares his innocence. At times, he's even charming. But she has tied him up and is determined to get a confession out of him.
There are many interwoven themes. The basic one is wondering if the doctor is, indeed, the right man. But then there is the relationship between the husband and the wife. We discover he and his wife were both members of the revolution but only she was caught and tortured. He has been trying to make that up to her for their whole marriage. We also get to hear a lot about the details of the torture. It is chilling and disturbing and, even though the only violence in the film is against the suspect who is tied up, the woman's prison experience, which is only talked about and not shown, is excruciatingly painful to hear about.
There are other questions raised too. What happens to a society when it gives someone power over a helpless person? Now, we see the woman with power over the tied-up doctor. And we are forced to think about how this kind of power corrupts a whole society. This is a concept that is universal, as fresh today as it has always been. And the director certainly knows how to bring it out. All of the actors were sensational. I soon forgot they were performing and was completely swept into the story. I could feel the pain of all three characters as well as the horror of the electric shocks of the past.
The title comes from a string quartet by Franz Schubert called Death and the Maiden. This piece of music had been played during the woman's torture. She has found a tape of it in the doctor's car and plays it throughout. It helps to frame the action, right down to the film's excellent and satisfying conclusion.
I was surprised to discover that this film had won no significant awards and got little recognition when it was released. It wasn't even given a high rating from the critics. That's too bad. I think that it is an important film. I'm glad I discovered it though. It's sad and serious and ultimately meaningful on many levels. And I give it my very highest recommendation.
Rating:
Summary: Weaving the Maiden's Tale
Review: This film is an utter masterpiece! Let's start with the plot- written by, and adapted from his own play by, Ariel Dorfman, the screenplay is wrought with twists and guilt and fear in almost every breath. Some find it a bit "stagy" but i couldn't see any of it! The direction- is wonderfully full of suspence, yet can be quite tender at times. Polanski knows his subject, knows what he's doing. The music- yes- the music! Written by Wojciech Kilar, who scored "Bram Stoker's Dracula", the music is very simple, yet extremely effective, and often moving. And finally- the acting- Stuart Wilson is very believable as Gerardo, and pulls off the feelings of guilt and anger very well. Ben Kingsley is startlingly acute in his performance as Miranda. He never allows any bias to enter his performance, so you are left guessing to the very end. And, of course, Sigourney Weaver. Who is simply AMAZING!! I knew she was a great actress, but she surpassed herself in this. The torture she goes through; the brief feelings of doubt, and then the dawning that this IS the man she wants. At least that's what she believes. This performance is so powerfull, so tender, so angry and so painfull, that if this were a bigger, studio film, Weaver would have finally walked off with an acadamy award. But, alas, the big studios cannot bring themselves to make movies that have so many strengths and so much to say. See this film. Learn and be amazed at the human beings it portrays. Do you recognise yourself in one of the characters?
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