| Restoration | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover |
|
| Directed by | Michael Hoffman |
| Produced by | Cary Brokaw |
| Written by | Rupert Walters |
| Starring | Robert Downey, Jr. Sam Neill David Thewlis Polly Walker Meg Ryan |
| Music by | James Newton Howard |
| Cinematography | Oliver Stapleton |
| Editing by | Garth Craven |
| Distributed by | Miramax Films |
| Release date(s) | 1995 |
| Running time | 150 min. For the poet see Michael Hofmann. For the German film director see Michael Hofmann (director. Robert John Downey Jr (born April 4 1965 is an American Sam Neill, DCNZM, OBE (born 14 September 1947 is a New Zealand film and television actor David Thewlis (né Wheeler; born 20 March 1963 is an English Film, Television and stage Actor, as well as a Polly Walker (born 19 May 1966 in Warrington, Cheshire, England, UK) Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra (born November 19, 1961) professionally known as Meg Ryan, is a Golden Globe-nominated American film James Newton Howard (born June 9, 1951 in Los Angeles) is an Academy Award nominated Film score Composer and The year 1995 in film involved some significant events Events March 22 - The Dogme 95 movement is officially announced in Paris |
| Country | U.S.A. |
| Language | English |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Restoration is a 1995 film which tells the story of a young doctor, Robert Merivel, who finds himself in the service of King Charles II of England after having saved the King's favorite spaniel. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Charles II (Charles Stuart 29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685 was the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Merivel finds himself enjoying a life of pleasure and popularity at court, until the King informs him that he has arranged for Merivel to wed Celia, the King's favorite mistress. The purpose of the arranged marriage is to fool another of the King's mistresses, Barbara Castlemaine. Merivel is given an estate named Bidnold in Suffolk, and Celia is installed in a house in Kew where the king can visit her secretly. Merivel lives a life of debauchery there, but also finds pleasure in restoring the house to its former beauty. But things become complicated when Merivel breaks the King's cardinal rule by falling in love with Celia, who does not return Merivel's affections.
Finding out about Merivel's romantic feelings toward Celia, the King banishes him from court back to his life as a physician. Merivel rejoins his old friend, John Pearce, who has opened a Quaker sanitarium. There, Merivel meets Katherine, a troubled young woman whose husband walked out on her after their daughter drowned in the river. Merivel and Katherine become lovers. John Pearce falls fatally ill with consumption, and while Merivel is tending to his dying friend, Katherine makes a scene declaring to all who live and work at the facility that Merivel is her lover. They then discover that Katherine is pregnant with Merivel's child, and after the death of John Pearce, Merivel and Katherine are both asked to leave.
The pair return to London just as the plague has hit. Katherine gives birth to a daughter, Margaret, via cesarean, but Katherine dies in the process as there is no way to ward off infection once the body has been cut open. In her dying moments, Merivel promises Katherine that he will care for Margaret, and that he loves Katherine.
As the plague continues to slaughter the people of London, Merivel feels compelled to do what he can as a physician. He goes out into the city, separating the sick from the well, who have all been quarantined together, and does what he can to ease the suffering of the dying. When someone asks for Merivel's name, he says he is John Pearce as a tribute to his friend. Under this misnomer and in disguise, Merivel is once again summoned to the palace. The King fears that Celia has contracted the plague, but Merivel soon assures him that she does not have the plague, but rather has a regular treatable illness. With this, Merivel realizes the life he has now is more rewarding and fulfilling than the life and loves at the court he left behind.
Suddenly, the court is notified that the city is ablaze, and Merivel races back to the city to retrieve his infant daughter from the flames. He is unable to find her, and falling through burning wood, Merivel lands in a small row-boat, unconscious, and is floated by the river current away from the city. When he awakens, he is back at Bidnold, the estate the King had given to him at his marriage of Celia, then taken away. As Merivel recovers from his fall, he cannot recover from his failure to protect his young daughter from harm, when suddenly the King arrives at the house with his entourage. He informs Merivel that he has discovered the doctor's true identity, and that he was impressed with the man Merivel had become. With that, the King steps aside to reveal the midwife holding Margaret, Merivel's daughter, safely in her arms. For his courage and good work done in treating the victims of the plague, the King once again gives Merivel Bidnold, stating that this time it will never be taken away. The movie ends with Merivel returning to London, to set up a new hospital with help from the King.
The movie was adapted by Rupert Walters from the novel by Rose Tremain. Restoration is a novel by Rose Tremain, published in 1989. It was short listed for the Booker Prize in 1989 and was the Sunday Express Rose Tremain CBE (born August 2, 1943) is an English author Life Rose Tremain was born Rosemary Jane Thomson on August It was directed by Michael Hoffman and stars Robert Downey Jr., Sam Neill, David Thewlis, Polly Walker, Meg Ryan, Ian McKellen, Hugh Grant and Ian McDiarmid. For the poet see Michael Hofmann. For the German film director see Michael Hofmann (director. Robert John Downey Jr (born April 4 1965 is an American Sam Neill, DCNZM, OBE (born 14 September 1947 is a New Zealand film and television actor David Thewlis (né Wheeler; born 20 March 1963 is an English Film, Television and stage Actor, as well as a Polly Walker (born 19 May 1966 in Warrington, Cheshire, England, UK) Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra (born November 19, 1961) professionally known as Meg Ryan, is a Golden Globe-nominated American film Sir Ian Murray McKellen, CH, CBE (born 25 May 1939 is an English stage and screen actor the Hugh John Mungo Grant (born 9 September 1960 is a British Actor and Film producer. Ian McDiarmid (born 11 August 1944 is a Scottish Tony Award -winning actor and Theatre director.
It won Academy Awards for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration and Best Costume Design. "The Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film. The Academy Awards are the oldest awards ceremony for achievements in motion pictures. This Academy Award was first given for movies made in 1948 when separate awards were given for black-and-white and color movies
Trivia
- Composer James Newton Howard's main theme is based on the sarabande from George Frideric Handel's suite for keyboard, vol. James Newton Howard (born June 9, 1951 in Los Angeles) is an Academy Award nominated Film score Composer and In Music, the sarabande (It sarabanda) is a Dance in Triple metre. 2 (HWV 437, ca. 1705).
Charles II: "You are not loved for who you are, but for what you do. "
External links
Allmovie (previously All Movie Guide) is a commercial database of information about Movie stars movies and television shows.Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic