The Remains of the Day"Gather ye rosebuds while ye may," as the poem goes by Robert Herrick, the message being that you should seize the opportunities in life when you have them, for you may not have them again. The Remains of the Day is a story embracing this philosophy, as Mister (James) Stevens (Anthony Hopkins) recalls his earlier days at Darlington Hall--now in the ownership of his new employer, Mr. Lewis (Christopher Reeve). He journeys to reunite with his former colleague and undisclosed romantic interest, Miss (Sally) Kenton/Missus Benn (Emma Thompson), ostensibly in the interest of solving a staffing problem for the house.
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Adapted from the novel of the same name by Kazuo Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day periodically cuts between the past and the "present", the before and after of World War II, as Stevens reminisces about his days at Darlington Hall in the service of Lord Darlington (James Fox), a "gentleman of the 'old school'", as Mr. Lewis describes him at a dinner party. And Darlington--and what he stands for--is in decline, as Mr. Lewis also observes in a roundabout way. The days leading up to WWII represented the transitional phase for England, when the Edwardian landed gentry was in its final days, although to witness our first introductions to the stately manor, one would hardly believe it, had history not been around to prove otherwise. And that change is a threat which England--represented by both Darlington and moreso, Stevens--is forced to confront, and destined to lose against. Stevens embodies the highest standards of service, a butler par excellence who trusts his employer implicitly, simply because that is a part of his profession. Stevens observes that the highest achievement he can pursue is to serve his employer; this assumes his employer is a man of excellent character. But what happens when that employer is not the perfect gentleman, the pinnacle of greatness Stevens has forced himself to accept? For Stevens, the truth is that he is simply donning a mask to protect himself, most likely from his own emotions. Over the course of the film, we see Stevens in moments where he should react with emotion, but does not, as if he has simply turned a switch, and not allowed it to be returned. In some ways, this represents a kind of satire of English manner, the idea of restraining emotion to convey a sense of sophistication and command. But whereas much satire relies on portrayals of caricatures with exaggerated tones, Stevens is almost completely devoid of emotion, nearly robotic, though challenged in this steadfast refusal to blink by the bravest efforts of Miss Kenton. Mister Stevens and Miss Kenton share a good working relationship--though it starts somewhat rocky--and they respect one another's capabilities and begin to understand one another over their time together. There is even a scene when they are sharing an evening discussion which reminds me of a married couple about to retire for the evening, such is the sense that these two share some deeper feelings for one another, which either their positions or their manner prevents them from disclosing to one another. It might be easy to view Stevens as a parody of the stalwart English butler, but he is quite human--so human that he has built a fortress around himself to prevent any emotion from getting out and compromising his work; regrettably, that fortress serves the same function of keeping anyone from getting in. There is a sense that Stevens' defense has been built up over time--maybe even fostered--by his father, Mister (William) Stevens (Peter Vaughan), who doesn't hesitate when pressed after he has an accident to bully his own son (and boss) to try to let him continue to wait at table. But the son loves the father, as the father loves the son; though their relationship is stoic and there is little in the way of affection, Mister Stevens "senior" does share his pride with his son, though the younger appears to have already succumbed to the numbness preventing him from appropriately reciprocating the sentiment. At one point, Miss Kenton observes that "all I see out in the world is loneliness, and it frightens me". She is speaking of how she had threatened to leave after two Jewish girls were dismissed, but more than that, the sentiment mirrors both her and Stevens' inner terror of actually joining the human race, having been consigned to "service" like a sentence. Though they may enjoy it and are both good at it, the insulated world of the gentry is a cage they walk into because, yes, the world is dangerous...only, it is Miss Kenton who actually dares to make that leap from it, perils and all.
The setting of The Remains of the Day marks the film as a unique perspective in history, focusing on that period prior to World War II, when the Nazi party was gaining momentum in Germany, and there was a subversive effort on their part to build diplomatic alliances with Europe to prevent the rest of the continent from getting too wise to stop them before it was too late. Simply put, Nazi Germany was exploiting the perception by some that The Treaty of Versailles was responsible for the economic downturn in Germany, and that although Germany was expanding at a rapid pace by conquering other countries regarded as unimportant by the larger powers in Europe at the time, they only wanted "peace". There is that loaded word...peace. A significant portion of the film is devoted to an international conference between delegates from across Europe--and Mr. Lewis from America--to hear out Germany's proposals. When the talks are over, only Mr. Lewis seems to oppose the manipulative seduction the German countess has enchanted the other "amateur politicians" with, and he is not treated warmly when he publicly discloses this to them; but he was right. There is a sense that the Germans arrive with the intention to seduce the others with their charm, via their earnest pleas and apparent subservience to allow them a place at the table, and that is part of what makes the European delegates easily taken in. They are used to being served--just as Darlington is by Stevens--so they do not see the mask the Germans wear. Their honor becomes a liability, whereas Mr. Lewis is presumably not accustomed to servants from his homestead in Pennsylvania, and isn't taken in on the merits of that virtue. It is said that hindsight is 20/20, and so it is with our own view of history, just as it is reflected in the "present" of The Remains of the Day. As Stevens travels to the west country, he is periodically confronted with encounters by people in the "outside world", who ask him about if he knew the "Nazi sympathizer", Lord Darlington; Stevens twice refuses having known him, like Peter to Jesus--the comparison made the more significant in light of Stevens' lofty claims to honor his master without reserve now flaked away into nothing. Though there is no question in our collective minds about the evils inflicted by the Nazis in the Holocaust any longer, the truth was that prior to this horrifying revelation--and prior to the war itself--Germany was a country expanding, seeking global acceptance, and soliciting aid from foreign powers to give strength to their claims of a stronger, healthier Germany, which wanted to contribute to the global community. It is very easy to look back upon those who aided the Nazis to power and regard them as monsters--and many were--but Lord Darlington represents a particular kind of gentleman taken in by those who exploit his good will and use him--and others like him--to fight their battles on their behalf, not knowing (or paying attention to) the evils that the Nazis fostered. Darlington believes he is doing right by atoning for the suicide of his late German friend, who was economically crippled by the Versailles Treaty. Ironically, his friend's son--and Darlington's godson--Reginald Cardinal (Hugh Grant) is vehemently opposed to the Nazi party and the tyranny they represent. Darlington--like many of his contemporaries--wants peace, but as Mr. Lewis warns, peace should not come at any cost. This is an argument which was true then, and still rings desperately true today, with the continuing struggles on our world's stage in Israel and Palestine, in Crimea, in Iran. For a film which so intimately focuses on the working relationships between Mister Stevens and Miss Kenton, it is set upon a political backdrop, although our hero and heroine's problems are so detached from them; their concerns are not of the "great talks" which take place within their walls, but of the quiet ones they share together, of rendezvous of flowers and reading sentimental romances, of displaced "chinamen" dolls and dustpans, of their shyness and quiet doubts. It's a point that comes up when a cynical "gentleman" humiliates Stevens by asking him about his opinions about very detailed political hullabaloo, and claims that there is no point in giving "the people" the right to vote; he is so wrong not just because we are indignant at his elitist suggestion, but because Mister Stevens and Miss Kenton are those people, those hard-working souls who have real feelings buried behind their reservations, reinforced by years in "service". Ultimately, Mister Stevens is the unsung casualty of Second World War, even before the first shot rang out, because try as Miss Kenton (now Mrs. Benn) does, she cannot bring him back to life in the twilight of his years, and he remains what he has been: a servant.
Recommended for: Fans of a faithful adaptation of a great literary work, of a soft-spoken romance which is tender and full of longing, of the perils of a life of service without purpose, and a reminder of the value of one's self.
The setting of The Remains of the Day marks the film as a unique perspective in history, focusing on that period prior to World War II, when the Nazi party was gaining momentum in Germany, and there was a subversive effort on their part to build diplomatic alliances with Europe to prevent the rest of the continent from getting too wise to stop them before it was too late. Simply put, Nazi Germany was exploiting the perception by some that The Treaty of Versailles was responsible for the economic downturn in Germany, and that although Germany was expanding at a rapid pace by conquering other countries regarded as unimportant by the larger powers in Europe at the time, they only wanted "peace". There is that loaded word...peace. A significant portion of the film is devoted to an international conference between delegates from across Europe--and Mr. Lewis from America--to hear out Germany's proposals. When the talks are over, only Mr. Lewis seems to oppose the manipulative seduction the German countess has enchanted the other "amateur politicians" with, and he is not treated warmly when he publicly discloses this to them; but he was right. There is a sense that the Germans arrive with the intention to seduce the others with their charm, via their earnest pleas and apparent subservience to allow them a place at the table, and that is part of what makes the European delegates easily taken in. They are used to being served--just as Darlington is by Stevens--so they do not see the mask the Germans wear. Their honor becomes a liability, whereas Mr. Lewis is presumably not accustomed to servants from his homestead in Pennsylvania, and isn't taken in on the merits of that virtue. It is said that hindsight is 20/20, and so it is with our own view of history, just as it is reflected in the "present" of The Remains of the Day. As Stevens travels to the west country, he is periodically confronted with encounters by people in the "outside world", who ask him about if he knew the "Nazi sympathizer", Lord Darlington; Stevens twice refuses having known him, like Peter to Jesus--the comparison made the more significant in light of Stevens' lofty claims to honor his master without reserve now flaked away into nothing. Though there is no question in our collective minds about the evils inflicted by the Nazis in the Holocaust any longer, the truth was that prior to this horrifying revelation--and prior to the war itself--Germany was a country expanding, seeking global acceptance, and soliciting aid from foreign powers to give strength to their claims of a stronger, healthier Germany, which wanted to contribute to the global community. It is very easy to look back upon those who aided the Nazis to power and regard them as monsters--and many were--but Lord Darlington represents a particular kind of gentleman taken in by those who exploit his good will and use him--and others like him--to fight their battles on their behalf, not knowing (or paying attention to) the evils that the Nazis fostered. Darlington believes he is doing right by atoning for the suicide of his late German friend, who was economically crippled by the Versailles Treaty. Ironically, his friend's son--and Darlington's godson--Reginald Cardinal (Hugh Grant) is vehemently opposed to the Nazi party and the tyranny they represent. Darlington--like many of his contemporaries--wants peace, but as Mr. Lewis warns, peace should not come at any cost. This is an argument which was true then, and still rings desperately true today, with the continuing struggles on our world's stage in Israel and Palestine, in Crimea, in Iran. For a film which so intimately focuses on the working relationships between Mister Stevens and Miss Kenton, it is set upon a political backdrop, although our hero and heroine's problems are so detached from them; their concerns are not of the "great talks" which take place within their walls, but of the quiet ones they share together, of rendezvous of flowers and reading sentimental romances, of displaced "chinamen" dolls and dustpans, of their shyness and quiet doubts. It's a point that comes up when a cynical "gentleman" humiliates Stevens by asking him about his opinions about very detailed political hullabaloo, and claims that there is no point in giving "the people" the right to vote; he is so wrong not just because we are indignant at his elitist suggestion, but because Mister Stevens and Miss Kenton are those people, those hard-working souls who have real feelings buried behind their reservations, reinforced by years in "service". Ultimately, Mister Stevens is the unsung casualty of Second World War, even before the first shot rang out, because try as Miss Kenton (now Mrs. Benn) does, she cannot bring him back to life in the twilight of his years, and he remains what he has been: a servant.
Recommended for: Fans of a faithful adaptation of a great literary work, of a soft-spoken romance which is tender and full of longing, of the perils of a life of service without purpose, and a reminder of the value of one's self.