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A member of one of my cliques says, in his words, "Merchant Ivory means insomnia hypnosis". What's he saying? He thinks Ivory pushes too deep into the artistic category - where only a thinking audience can have a good time and the rest would rather be alone at a party drinking punch by the corner. The problem with Ivory vs. Audience is dramatic appeal - rarely in films like The Remains of the Day and Howard's End have there been moments of tantalizing rip, except maybe Emma Thompson shedding into her pillow. A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries is extremely far from hokey, but you should note that it is just as complex and literary as Remains and Howard's.
Channe Willis (Sobieski), leaves Paris and embarks to the Home of the Brave. Her life in Paris being very posh, Willis plays the part of well brought up girl, casting no doubt upon her parents' textured role in the club of wealthy dominance. But Channe just loves to be, what we termed where I live, a loser around here. Without delving further into any plot outlines (this one's hard to not spoil in a review) it's a story of personal triumph and her parents have to enter the plea once again.
The performances are both poignant and comme il faut, where you need to feel you feel. In terms of cinema - where you want to have a good time, a worthy time or an agonizing time - it beats with a heavy hand the past glitches the so carried the load of Ivory films - where the footing never gets off the ground, where the characters never become our own. It's not a sappy trip, or a Saving Private Ryan, in fact your tears are well tithered to stay in your gland - but it's a comfort to know that independent art films that are decent can still come around.
It's
not a wet pillow saga, but a promising picture of what a film that's
about a lot can express in its few, short, artistic triumphs. Starring
Leelee Sobieski, Kris Kristofferson, Barbara Hersehy. Dir: James Ivory