Remains of the Day: Miss Kenton's Apology

[carlosanilber]

"I'd be lost without her."

Seriously this is one of the best dramas ever, I can never decide which film I like better, this one or Howards End.

[TheGodParticle]

Why she doesn't tell him her feelings escapes me. A wasted life.

[clazza01]

@TheGodParticle pride comes before a fall

[TheGodParticle]

@clazza01 Thats no excuse, If a woman loves a man she would normaly show him her heart and they always do in the end. This movie is simple based on a woman that held back her feelings and emotions for two decades perhaps three. And thats no foundation for a great movie. Its a great film don't don't get me wrong, but the relationship between the two is very fictional in my books. cheers people.

[Deppaddicted]

@TheGodParticle Yes, but you see the situation you describe is what happens in every movie. They meet, they fall in love accidentally, they hold back, then they reveal their love to each other. Quite predictable. The fact that it did not happen in this film makes it all the more powerful because you suffer a little along with the charcaters. I thought it was very well done the way it was, even if I would have loved to see Stevens confess his love to Miss Kenton.

[shahideurope]

What exactly did Miss Kenton find attractive about Mr Stevens? I say this as someone quite like Mr Stevens myself.

[clairegray13]

what a rubbish film!! I lay in bed ill lasts night watching what I thought would be a grat period drama about upstairs and downstairs and its just went on and on with no real grit or passion. And the end bit with the pigeon, either I am not getting it or the writers were MENTAL!!!!!

[gilliangirl1]

@clairegray13 You're not getting it. The film is brilliant. It's about a number of things but mostly Stevens' inability tio free himself to love Miss Kenton. The bird at the end is about feeling imprisoned, in this case, imprisoned by emotion, or lack of emotion.

[FunnyMsFace]

I only stumbled upon these scenes here on youtube ...looks like a a fine film-with fine actors!

[FindsLoveInAllThings]

I disagree. Although I will not read the book (cannot get over the first person narration--one of my personal aversions), I think this scene fits the storyline perfectly because it manipulates the audience by appealing to that last morsel of hope that Mr. Stevens will overcome the barriers he has constructed for himself and admit the existence of his feelings for Miss Kenton. And then we, like her, are able to be just as appalled and devastated by what actually comes out of his mouth.

[coolahoop]

@FindsLoveInAllThings

You're missing out on one hell of a book. Ishiguro is a prose stylist of the highest order, and he demonstrates just how affecting and beautiful a novel can and should be.

[FindsLoveInAllThings]

@coolahoop So I have been told, but I am a writer myself and prefer third person narration similar to Virginia Woolf's "Mrs. Dalloway" and "To the Lighthouse." Perhaps one day I will struggle through his novel, but when I read something, I do so as a writer, and thus reading in first person comes with some amount of struggle.

[melosebrainuhoh]

I think this is the one part of the movie where they mess up. In the book, he merely walks by the room and thinks that he hears her crying, but just ignores it (like he's ignored her love of him) and goes about his business. Having him going into the room and talk to her while she's crying goes too far. He's no longer merely being stubbornly distant, he's now being an outright jerk.

[epicvlas]

A MASTERPICE AN ART FILM A TRULY WONDER OF CINEMA!

[clazza01]

was mr stevens in love with miss kenton?

well?

what do you think?

i hope he was..grrr maddening

[profesortutka]

@clazza01 yes, he was ... unfortunately love is sometimes a battlefield

[clazza01]

DUSTING? THE MAN IS MENTAL, SHE IS IN LIOVE WITH HIM, BUT HE CANT BE WHAT SHE WANTS HIM TO BE EVEN THOUGHT THEY ARE KINDRED SPIRITS

[yellowwitch1]

I did not know british people could cry. may be its only when they are acting :)

[brothadave]

The way he turns to leave her to cry is so chillingly robotic. I feel so sorry for him simply now knowing what to do.

[FlewMary]

Oh, why is she crying ? Poor Emma...

[895angela]

He breaks her heart right here..look at her face. :(

[Arshabyn7]

Great film!! i love book scene

[brandon1ucas]

@Arshabyn7 me too. There is much going on in Stevens's head that we miss out on in the film.

[Arshabyn7]

Why he not kiss her? is really sad... Magnific film!! Anthony & Emma=magic

[yellowwitch1]

@Arshabyn7 cause he is a british prick, they are not really human, like the rest of us.

[baerin18]

1:08 "well, i suppose i could just slip into her room with a bottle of nice wine and..."

[chattan258]

Agree! Although there's no real sex in this film, the tension between the two is much more erotic than most of the sex-scenes you see in films.

[Alpito123]

@chattan258 hahah good lord, where have you learned to speak like that :) No offense, i think it was a great comment.

[mefeline]

@chattan258 i couldn't agree more, esp the book scene

[bachjupp]

Hopkins' character is the definition of the German Uebermensch (over-human), who is more concentrated on work and progress than chemical imbalances (emotions). This was actually a very Germanic standard of behavior, and made the Northern countries of Europe great. Notice the difference between North and South Europe. One key difference is that Northerners behaved like Mr. Stevens, rejected interfering emotion and were able to get work done. I see this as triumph over animalistic feelings.

[Jcorry123]

Hmm... your celebration of the "German Ubermensch" sounds a lot like Nazism.

[APRIL141958model]

Heil Hitler! A message from Der Fuhrer. He orders that you destroy yourself UNMITTELBAR! You will carry out his order without question. It is not neccessary to give a reason. Heil Hitler!

[APRIL141958model]

Heil Hitler! You have been given your final order. You will carry it out as instructed. It is not neccessary to give a reason. Heil Hitler!

[baerin18]

is that you, Adolf?

[sparklingdark]

Hopkins should have gotten another Oscar for this....When i saw it in the theater I sat for 10 minutes and cried when it ended.

[JiffySpook]

This and 'Paris, Texas' are the only sincere, no bullshit love stories that have been put to film (that I can think of).

[dad4usmc]

Reds was a great love story, and based on fact.

[RaikenXion]

when Mr Stevens walks in that room, the first time i saw this i thought, hes gonna tell her he loves her, but it's shocking how cold he is to her, it's like he so wants to tell her, but right at the last moment he just can't bring himself to say it. I cant believe people were like this in those times, duty first above all else

[MAldoseri]

If only movies would remain faithful to the novels they're based upon. -_-"

[wownouser]

@MAldoseri He deliberately walked to her room when she was crying to hurt her. He stil hasn't forgiven her for what she said to him in an earlier scene.

[khm1968mo]

read the book its even worse!!!!!

[chattan258]

In the DVD-commentary Emma Thompson says that after they'd done the scene (I think in one take) she thought that it'd be even better if Miss Kenton would just start to laugh unbelievingly after his comments, but James Ivory thought it was perfect as it was (or something like that - I really have to watch it with the commentary once again).

[ClarinetMadeofSteele]

If I remember rightly she said that James Ivory said it was a good idea @ the time, but he didn't remember saying that in the commmentary...something to that effect.

[ajs41]

I love Stevens' dignity throughout.

[mixedgrain]

Anthony Hopkins said in an interview once that he felt a certain similarity and affinity to Mr. Stevens and could identify with him to a large extent. (I'm paraphrasing of course). I think it was in the extra sections of the DVD. Interesting commentaries by Emma Thomson too.

[Barbiculatum]

I love this movie so much. Such a life-real story. THis could be love, if only he made a choice. I've met those kinds of men, they didn't want to be involved just because their priorities were the job, the dog or sth else, and i thought it was my fault. Although such freaks somehow seem very attractive and intereting...I always feel a weakness to those, and when they are unable to show emotions.. And actually, he did love her, i think. He really did. In his freakish way...

[castalia60]

Yes, he did love her because he had hopes to change the course of his life when he made a choice to meet her at the Holiday Hotel and walk to the Pier. Unfortunately, as destiny would have it her ex-husband came down and talked to her about her daughter and trying for a 2nd chance of happiness with her - What a Bummer..

[RodCornholio]

This display of inhumanity is EXACTLY like my experiences of working in the business world. Exactly.

[profesortutka]

This situation is different, it's not about the inhumanity in general, however it maight looks like it. He is cold, harsh because he wants to hide his feelings to her, it's a common paradox, some men the more they love somebody the more they are cold. I am in the same situation...warm words get stuck in my throat, because I'm affraid of love

[RodCornholio]

I thought I was alone in that. You may want to look up "love shyness" and "Highly Sensitive Person".

The above words in quotes are NOT good descriptions in themselves but are merely the best the psychs can come up with for describing a complicated, unique trait.

[greger1]

The way she retreats into the shadow... gets to me.

[lovelyladykate15]

that's horrible! its emma thompson! crying!

[jcdraws]

I am not sure that he has a limited emotional range -- he expresses his affection in the only way he knows how, in the only way available to him. This scene represents this perfectly. This film is as much about culture as it is affects.

[Tigerlily21]

He frustrates teh fuck out of me! Always by the book. Having showing emotion of a robot. And Emma Thompson cries so well that it makes me even more angry at Anthony Hopkins character.

[Orione]

I know! I feel the same way. I want to shake him!

[scf3]

Such a great (and sad) scene - brilliant acting, I really wished they'd make another film together.

[bluebell1225]

They actually do have another film together. Have you seen Howard's End? If not, that is another Merchant Ivory productions they both acted in. Another Brilliant performance. Take care :-)

[scf3]

I know "Howard's End" (great proposal scene and kiss ;-)), but I'd wished they'd make a new film together.

[Nordenwald]

Ah yes! the proposal... aaah.... "d'you think you could be induced to..... uh.... share....." ha ha ha - great scene!!! thanks for reminding me of it...

[VthatsME]

Could you also post the scene that she says she's engaged and the end when they say goodbye for the last time and she starts crying??? Please?

[yellowwitch1]

@scf3 I really wish they didn't...

[thespotteddog]

When Stevens drops the bottle of wine, he has the strongest emotional reaction in the film. He has failed to serve his employer to perfection. More inexcusable to him than anything else he could do. So very, very sad.

[mahlstadt]

That's true, he never really expressed emotion out loud anywhere else. We only get to see a bit of anguish or sadness on his face, like when Miss Kenton said Benn had proposed or when his father spoke about his mother.

Poor Mr Stevens, I really sympathise with him. We're often taught to repress our emotions at times, especially at work, but he just got it wrong and took it way too far.

[profesortutka]

frozen feelings, it's hard to get rid of them in a moment

[profesortutka]

yes, outside frost, inside fire

[brianpadraic]

What is the guy's problem? He is emotionally unavailable all the time to everyone. It is never explained with a backstory. Is he a homosexual?

[namotac]

He has Asperger's Syndrome.

[mirwurscht]

this diagnosis may be farfetched...

but anyway, when i watched this movie i had to think of my brother, who has asperger

[clazza01]

@brianpadraic no, he is in service, and his father was too, emotion was not considered to be normal never mind being able to express it

[ewlalah]

*Sigh* first I watched Howards End & liked Hopkins-Thompson as a pair but in this film I just loved them with passion.

[backinthe70s]

One of the most heartbreaking scenes I have ever seen in a movie.

[1SECRETBILLY]

Christopher Reed's acting was great but Hopkins & Thompson there is none better on (Film)Astounding writing.Very hard to find movie and expensive ??Thanks for the post Bluebell

[khm1968mo]

if u r in the us or gb its cheap on amazon dvd

[carlitoparadise]

GREAT MOVIE!!

[bluebell1225]

I know....:-) No one can cry the best like Emma! Thanks for the comment. :-)