While the tone may falter slightly and strain in the flashbacks of Rosina's childhood, Goldbacher succeeds in making The Governess a memorable initial film. Eloquently photographed by Ashley Rowe, The Governess is shot with an overlay of strong brown hues that relate beautifully to the photographic elements of the film. Minnie Driver and Tom Wilkinson play the lovers ignited by the spark of knowledge with great intensity. Still, there are melodramatic elements that creep in to the smoldering exchanges. Faithfully capturing the elegant look of The Governess , this Columbia DVD release is given a fine anamorphic widescreen treatment.
Color is stable and intentionally muted.
Varied lighting conditions pose a video challenge that the DVD takes on confidently. Detail is sharp without sacrificing mood. The music sweeps appropriately on the Dolby Digital 2 channel surround. The package mistakenly identifies the aspect ratio as 2.35.