Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
The story of the romance between the King of Siam (now Thailand) and the widowed British school teacher Anna Leonowens during the 1860s. Anna teaches the children and becomes romanced by the King. She convinces him that a man can be loved by just one woman.
Anna and the King is a handsome, earnest retelling of a well-worn story (previously adapted as The King and I and earlier films), which keeps its Novelty score modest. The production design and cinematography are genuinely sumptuous — lush Thai locations and lavish palace interiors are captured with real grandeur, earning a strong mark. The performances from Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-fat are committed and watchable, though the chemistry between them is somewhat restrained and the characters feel slightly underwritten, landing them at an above-average but not exceptional level. The plot follows the familiar beats of the source material without significant reinvention, and while competently structured, it meanders in its middle section. The ending is dignified and emotionally appropriate if not especially surprising given the historical and narrative precedents.