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Besieged

Play trailer Poster for Besieged R,  1999,  1h 30m,  Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 73% 45 Reviews Tomatometer 80% 2,500+ Ratings Popcornmeter
73% Tomatometer 45 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Mild-mannered composer Jason Kinsky hires Shandurai, a medical student and recent immigrant from Africa, to work as a part-time maid in his home. As the repressed maestro observes his intoxicating new employee, Shandurai reveals herself to be a free spirit with a captivating sadness. And, when Kinsky suddenly declares his undying love for her, she sends him on a dark journey into the depths of passion, jealousy and political intrigue.

Critics Reviews

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Derek Elley Variety Dec 7, 2007
Bertolucci and co-writer Clare Peploe seem intent on deconstructing the story's interesting elements at every turn, substituting woolliness for clarity, atmospherics for real emotion and an often condescending, armchair-liberal naivete for real political Go to Full Review
Jeff Millar Houston Chronicle Jul 21, 2005
This is a deeply engrossing, often exquisite film by someone who knows visuals. It's sensory, sensual, handmade. Go to Full Review
Rick Groen Globe and Mail Mar 19, 2002
4/4
What an unexpected gift. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Dec 4, 2010
B
Made for Italian TV, this modestly scaled, intimate drama about the relationship between a British musician and his African housekeeper is well acted by Thandie Newton and David Thewlis. Go to Full Review
Mark Halverson Sacramento News & Review Aug 7, 2008
3/5
Sandra Contreras TV Guide Dec 7, 2007
2/4
Maddening on many fronts and strangely wordless, Bernardo Bertolucci's purported love story breaks no new ground. Go to Full Review
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Besieged

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Cast & Crew

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Bernardo Bertolucci

Director

Thandiwe Newton

Shandurai

David Thewlis

Jason Kinsky

Claudio Santamaria

Agostino

Cyril Nri

Sacerdote africano

Massimo De Rossi

Compratore di pianoforti

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Besieged

Besieged (1998) Besieged (1998) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Mild-mannered composer Jason Kinsky hires Shandurai, a medical student and recent immigrant from Africa, to work as a part-time maid in his home. As the repressed maestro observes his intoxicating new employee, Shandurai reveals herself to be a free spirit with a captivating sadness. And, when Kinsky suddenly declares his undying love for her, she sends him on a dark journey into the depths of passion, jealousy and political intrigue.
Director
Bernardo Bertolucci
Producer
Massimo Cortesi
Screenwriter
James Lasdun, Bernardo Bertolucci, Clare Peploe
Distributor
Fine Line Features
Production Co
Mediaset, Navert Film, Fiction
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 21, 1999, Wide
Release Date (DVD)
Dec 21, 1999
Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.0M
Runtime
1h 30m
Sound Mix
Surround
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