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Howards End
1992 142 min United Kingdom, Japan, United States of America PG 12+
★8.2
Drama, Romance
Director: James Ivory
🎭 Based on
«Howards End»
byE. M. Forster
Trailers
EN
EN
EN
Description
A saga of class relations and changing times in an Edwardian England on the brink of modernity, the film centers on liberal Margaret Schlegel, who, along with her sister Helen, becomes involved with two couples: wealthy, conservative industrialist Henry Wilcox and his wife Ruth, and the downwardly mobile working-class Leonard Bast and his mistress Jackie.
Budget:
$8M
US Gross:
$26.13M
Worldwide:
$26.13M
Starring
Anthony Hopkins
Actor
Emma Thompson
Actor
Vanessa Redgrave
Actor
Awards
Academy Awards 1993
— Best Production Design
Cannes Film Festival 1992
— 45th Anniversary Prize of the Cannes Film Festival
BAFTA 1993
— Best Actress
Academy Awards 1993
— Best Costume Design
Cannes Film Festival 1992
— 45th Anniversary Prize of the Cannes Film Festival
BAFTA 1993
— Best Actress
BAFTA 1993
— Best Supporting Actor
Academy Awards 1993
— Best Original Score
Cannes Film Festival 1992
— Palme d'Or
Academy Awards 1993
— Best Picture
BAFTA 1993
— Best Picture
Academy Awards 1993
— Best Actress
Academy Awards 1993
— Best Supporting Actress
Golden Globe 1993
— Best Screenplay
Academy Awards 1993
— Best Adapted Screenplay
Academy Awards 1993
— Best Director
Golden Globe 1993
— Best Actress (Drama)
Golden Globe 1993
— Best Picture (Drama)
Golden Globe 1993
— Best Director
BAFTA 1993
— Best Director
BAFTA 1993
— Best Adapted Screenplay
BAFTA 1993
— Best Cinematography
BAFTA 1993
— Best Production Design
César Awards 1993
— Best International Feature Film
BAFTA 1993
— Best Supporting Actress
BAFTA 1993
— Best Costume Design
BAFTA 1993
— Best Film Editing
Key opinion
James Ivory’s adaptation of E.M. Forster’s novel is widely celebrated as a masterful, visually exquisite period drama anchored by uniformly stellar performances. While some viewers criticize its deliberate tempo or feel the adaptation lacks the depth of the original text, it remains a quintessential Merchant Ivory production noted for its insightful exploration of Edwardian class tensions.
| Acting | The ensemble cast delivers universally nuanced and compelling performances, with Emma Thompson’s Oscar-winning portrayal serving as a particular highlight. | |
| Production | The film excels in period authenticity, utilizing precise production design, costumes, and lush cinematography to create an immersive Edwardian atmosphere. | |
| Theme | The narrative effectively captures the novel’s themes of class conflict, inheritance, and the shifting social structures of early 20th-century England. | |
| Pacing | The film’s slow, contemplative pacing rewards those who enjoy character-driven dramas, though it feels sluggish or momentum-deficient to viewers seeking a faster narrative. | |
| Adaptation | Opinions on the screenplay are divided: some find it a faithful and elegant adaptation, while others argue it results in a fragmented or superficial take on Forster’s prose. |