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The House of Mirth

The House of Mirth

Drama · Romance · 2000

In early 20th century New York City, an impoverished socialite desperately seeks a suitable husband as she gradually finds herself betrayed by her friends and exiled from high society.

Movie details

The House of Mirth

“When a woman has the beauty men admire and women envy... it is wise to tread carefully.”

2000 Drama · Romance 2h 15m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.3 / 10

Community rating

In early 20th century New York City, an impoverished socialite desperately seeks a suitable husband as she gradually finds herself betrayed by her friends and exiled from high society.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The House of Mirth?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Terence Davies

Written by

Terence Davies

Gillian Anderson

Gillian Anderson

Lily Bart

Dan Aykroyd

Dan Aykroyd

Augustus 'Gus' Trenor

Eleanor Bron

Eleanor Bron

Mrs. Julia Peniston, Lily's Aunt

Terry Kinney

Terry Kinney

George Dorset

Anthony LaPaglia

Anthony LaPaglia

Sim Rosedale

Laura Linney

Laura Linney

Bertha Dorset

Jodhi May

Jodhi May

Grace Julia Stepney

Court is in session

Put The House of Mirth on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Sentimental Softie

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.