Entranced By It, But Agree With Flaws

Rating: 8/10 (15 October 2005)

This movie is problematic, as one person commented earlier. But I liked it because of the imperfections. The characters are just who they are. The story unfolds as it does because of the characters. I'm not sure it can all be easily explained. It's not "western white man bad" and "white man assimilated into native outlook" better. Whether Jane Campion intended this, I don't know.
This is one of those works that I find myself feeling a like and dislike of every character in the movie, save perhaps for the little girl. The adults are all rather dysfunctional and their interactions show it. Personally, as a female watching the movie, I found Baines unappealing and would not have liked his advances. In theory, I'd go for Stewart, although I can't imagine myself as a mail order bride. (gag) Instead of an industrious, pleasant (at least initially) young man that Stewart was, it could have been some lecherous old curmudgeon. Or a man who beat his wife as a matter of habit.
Certainly, Stewart's early comments were not endearing. But Baines' attempt to seduce Ada reminded me of a junior high school boy.
I don't know what Jane Campion's motives were. Nevertheless, I think the story is incredible. And that's how I watch it -- as a story.