Reviews (34)

Critics have lost touch with with great film making!
I had to write this in the hopes that some off-base "movie critic" would happen to read it, and maybe get the hint that he/she is way out of touch with love, beauty and amazing film making. "Swept From The Sea" is one of the most wrenching films I've ever seen, evoking passion, heartache and intense joy in the audience one scene after another. It is the story of a ship-wrecked Ukranian who finds himself on the shores of hostile Cornwall, England, and how he finds acceptance and "true gold" in the heart of misunderstood Amy Foster. The acting is superb, with breath-taking Vincent Perez exuding more emotion and energy with a glance than most leading men are able to in a monologue. Rachel Weisz's elegant beauty and dignity brings Amy's character the fierce strength and delicate femininity that Yanko falls so deeply in love with. Ian McKellan and Kathy Bates add depth and diversity to the film with their individual impressions of the doomed love affair and McKellan's shocked realization of his ill-placed resentment for Amy is a scene that will stay with you a long time. In all, "Swept From The Sea" seemed to be taken by critics as Amy was taken by the townspeople of Cornwall...simple, dull and not worth the effort to understand or accept...and just like Amy, this film proved them wrong. It is complex and beautiful, sweet, powerful and deeply touching. Everyone should see this gem of a film...it will help you appreciate those dear to you as you search for the Amys and Yankos in your lives.

A Heart Cast Upon the Sea
This magnificent film based on Joseph Conrad's 'Amy Foster' is filled with the timeless grace of classic literature. The Cornwall English coast has never been so beautifully photographed as it is here in this story of two hearts saving each other from a life of loneliness.

Rachel Weisz uses her open and beautiful face to marvelous effect, conveying the accumulated hurt and resolve of a girl who has lived her entire life deprived of love. Her father resents her for the marriage her arrival into the world forced him into and her mother witholds her love because of a much deeper shame Amy is unaware of. Amy counters their unkindness with a silence that seems strange to those around her and casts her heart upon the sea, waiting for it to be reborn.

When the sole survivor of a shipwreck washes ashore and is treated in the same manner as Amy because he is Russian and can not communicate with those around him their hearts connect instantly, a deeply moving yet simple act of human kindness when she washes his feet and offers him bread never to be forgotten, setting the tone for the entire film. Vincent Perez gives a perfect performance as the Russia stranger who is lost and helpless in a foreign land. It is as if the sea Amy so dearly loves has felt her hurt and brought her love.

Ian McKellan and Kathy Bates lend depth to this tender and tragic tale revolving around the sea. It will leave you with the feeling you get upon finishing a classic book, knowing it will linger long afterward in your heart and mind. This is a deeply romantic film, spare and beautiful, laced with tenderness and love.

Do not, under any circumstances, miss this fine film....

Comfort in the Storms of Life
No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit. ~Helen Keller

Amy's life is lonely and she lives in almost complete silence, obeying the wishes of the family she works for in a coastal village. She is captivated by the sea and collects treasures that float up on the beach near her secret hideout/cave. For the first part of the movie, she seems to be living in a dream world. While some think she is a simpleton, others think she is a witch who can conjure storms. She has a gentle, patient, malleable nature.

Often Amy (Rachel Weisz) is found dancing in the rain or standing in a window letting the wind and rain drench her clothes. She is a child of the water and loves the rain, rivers and the ocean. She seems to drift from reality into fantasy as she twirls in the rain. In fact, it seems she dreams her true love into life. She seems to be calling to him from the cliffs of Cornwall.

Yanko (Vincent Perez) arrives in Amy's village and changes her life. He is the only survivor of a shipwreck. He finds himself in a foreign land with no way to communicate with the residents. They fear strangers and almost kill him a few times before they allow him to live a normal life.

Amy seems to be a naturally kind and compassionate Pices. She also seems to be in love with Yanko from the moment they gaze at one another through the kitchen window. Like two trapped animals set free, they run to each other whenever possible and share a secret world only they understand.

"I'm your home and you're mine." ~Yanko

While both Yanko and Amy seems to live at a higher level of existence, you might be shocked by the downright cruelty of many of the villagers. There is a sharp contrast between those who are accepting of Yanko and those who are willing to shun even those who talk to Yanko. Amy not only faces distain because of her quiet manner, she is also hated because she welcomes Yanko into her life. She accepts him like a gift from the sea.

James Kennedy (Ian McKellen) realizes he is one of the Russian emigrants from a recent shipwreck while the rest of the village views him more cautiously. James doesn't seem to know the full story and the wounds are only healed by retelling the story to Yanko's former employer.

At times this movie borders on cinematic extravagance. The widescreen edition is stunning in places. Scenes of Amy dancing in the rain in a blue haze, horses pulling carriages across vast expanses of land, trains, seascapes, ships and an abundance of lush scenery at the edge of the ocean.

Being a lover of the ocean myself, I rather liked this movie. Not only is the scenery gorgeous, the score is dramatic, romantic, filled with longing and almost torturous in places.

Swept from the Sea is a story of two people who have a connection to the ocean and who understand one another on the deepest levels of the soul. Most of what goes on in this movie seems to go on in your own mind. Yanko and Amy seem to almost speak to one another telepathically. At times it is pure magic!

~TheRebeccaReview.com

tres bien!!
This movie was perfect. Great plot, gorgeous cinamatography, impeccable acting by Rachel, Ian, and of course Vincent. Everytime I see Vincent Perez in anything, he makes my heart ache. The first time i saw him was in "Indochine", I was 10 years old, and I totally fell in love. 10 years later, I still think he's amazing, he's one of those actors who just gets better and better with age.

Great for a night with the girlfriends!
My best friend and I just watched this and absolutely loved it. It's a five hankie movie, though, so be prepared.

Vincent Perez and Rachel Weisz are both beautiful and we quickly fell in love with their characters.

In fact, all the actors were wonderful. We were left with a bittersweet but satisfied feeling when the credits rolled. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Return to Nampara (sort of...)
As a long-time fan of Masterpiece Theatre's "Poldark" sagas, I was pleasantly surprised to find a new edition to the video epic. Sadly, none of the original stars came back to make this sequel. It's difficult to accept the new cast at first, but they do grow on you and soon you find yourself back in Cornwall enjoying an exciting story. Unfortunately, the movie abruptly ends just when you start to feel back at home. If this is a movie to be followed by more sequels, hurray and sign me up! As a stand-alone film, it is little more than a quick reunion with characters you once cared a lot about in the mini series. Well-acted, but ultimately going no where.

Great...but there's no ending!
I've never seen the old Poldark series or read the books...but I thought its a great story and the acting was superb. I can't believe it ended so abrubtly. They should of at least finished the story. It leaves you hanging.

Hellish!
OK, I admit I'm a fan of the orginal but, being aware that the original cast were not involved I approached this with an open mind. I came away with one burning question. Had any of the casting department actually read any of the books???

The saving grace could have been the presence of Fiona Victory. In the (much lamented) absence of Judy Geeson, she could have made a very credible Caroline Enys. I have seen Ms Victory in other roles and know that she could have brought the right qualitites to the role. However, she was prevented from doing that by the dreadful screenplay.

In short, my advice is stick to the books or buy the BBC series. This production bore no relation to the books and, had it not bore the Poldark name, I would never have made the connection.

Dreadful with a Capital D
This was awful. Reviewer Lawyeraau is right--it is a turkey and doesn't finish any of the story lines.This Poldark is such a mess that I'm not sure it even qualifies to be called a film. Were it done in the states - it would have been directed by Alan Smithee (if you get my drift.) Phew, what a stinker!

NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME...
All those viewers who loved the popular, epic BBC production of "Poldark", which was shown on Masterpiece Theatre in the mid to late nineteen seventies, will be more than disappointed with this film. They will be outraged. There is nothing epic about this film. The Poldark family saga is done an injustice by its very release, so very bad is it. It is with absolute justification that this film was pilloried by the critics.

While none of the same actors of the original BBC production appear in this film, and they should thank their lucky stars that they do not, the fault lies not with the actors cast in this film. Mel Martin is a credible Demelza, and John Bowe is an adequate, though uncharismatic, Ross Poldark. Unfortunately, they cannot compare to Robin Ellis and Angharad Rees in those respective roles. Ioan Gruffudd, lately of Horatio Hornblower fame, is fine as Jeremy Poldark, and Kelly Reilly gamely acts the role of Jeremy's beautiful, high spirited sister, Clowance. Michael Atwell is excellent as George Warleggan, Ross Poldark's arch enemy. Still, their innate abilities are not sufficient to overcome the poor direction, the bad screenplay, and the inartful editing of this film.

This is a film that, quite simply, should never have been released. The direction by Richard Laxton is ham handed and has all the drama of day old bread. The editing of the film leaves it incomprehensible at times. The screenplay is startling in its ineptness, as the film abruptly, though mercifully, ends with absolutely no closure of any of the story lines in the film. Perhaps, the director had high hopes that it would be continued as a sort of miniseries. If so, he was decidedly mistaken. This hellish screenplay, based upon Winston Graham's novel "Stranger From the Sea", is sure to have Winston Graham turning over in his grave over the indignity of being associated in some way with this complete travesty. Not even a viewer who loves period pieces, as I do, can sanction this mess. Do not waste your money. This film is a turkey. ... Read more