Reviews

There is an absurdly wonderful quality to this quiet little piece. To call it a straightforward romance is ridiculous! It's weirder than that, and just terrific. Rent it on a snowy Saturday and curl up with a bag of cashews to watch one of the oddest little gems. Eric Roberts is wonderful, and although Greta Scacchi isn't quite as memorable here, there's a shot of her unclothed from the back

when the air is filled with feathers that is.

Rickman saves the film. What can you say about a visually elegant, period piece with an unworthy script? It's a shame, because the glass armonica (a Ben Franklin invention) is authentic-looking and sounds eerily lovely. This film is worth renting just for that feature! I saw an armonica player at Colonial Williamsburg and was -- er -- mesmerized. It's a long, glass instrument that is played by spinning it in water. Hard to explain but so haunting, you'll never forget it. Also, there's a compelling scene when Mesmer leads a group of the lame and blind in a circle, so full of hope, and yet so very lost. Rickman looks wonderful whirling about in all those natty cloaks. He's the perfect Mesmer, in search of a script worthy of his gifts.