A Room with a View by the English novelist E. M. Forster is a love story set in both Italy and England somewhere between the years 1901-1910. The plot goes beyond that of a simple love story as it also explores themes on class snobbery, propriety and conflicting desires in Edwardian England.

The book has been successfully adapted by Merchant Ivory Productions which has produced one of the most best-loved screen adaptations to date and brought it to a wider and younger mainstream audience (who may or may not be familiar with E.M. Forster’s works).

Merchant Ivory Productions was founded in the 1960’s by Ismail Merchant and James Ivory. Their successful collaboration has included Howards End (1992) and Remains of the Day (1993) which have garnered much praise for their “visual beauty, their mature and intelligent themes, and the shrewd casting and fine acting.”

What I enjoyed most about the movie were the scenes that were shot in Italy where we catch glimpses of Gothic and Renaissance architecture in Florence in the form of the Santa Croce, the Duomo, the Ospedale degli Innocenti as well fresco paintings by Giotto in the Bardi Chapel. These artistic scenes bring the book alive so to speak as we ponder the Italianate culture of fiery passion and emotions that seems to be at odds with Edwardian values of restraint and convention rather than spontaneity and aberration. And these conflicting desires and values are wonderfully played out by the main cast of Helena Bonham Carter, Maggie Smith, Daniel Day Lewis and Judi Dench.

The movie is available in the Art, Design and Media Library (ADM Library).
  Call number: PR6011.O58R777 2004

The book is available in Library 2, Open shelves
  Call number: PR6011.O58R777