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Mira Sorvino plays a cross-dressing princess who falls madly in love with a young, inexperienced scholar in this adaptation of the 18th Century Marivaux play. His rationalist philosopher guardian Hemocrates (Ben Kingsley) has raised handsome Agis (Jay Rodan) to hate women, so the princess disguises herself as a man and crashes their secluded villa. What follows is an all out assault of seduction, as she finds herself wooing both Hemocrates and his spinster sister Leontine (Fiona Shaw) in effort to pursue her true quarry Agis, who is also the true heir to her throne.
Sorvino is wonderful in the lead, changing genders and suitors with the agility of a classic screwball heroine while still conveying sensitivity and warmth. Shaw and Kingsley shine as the stodgy siblings who find their lives upheaved by her fervent wooing. Unusual touches, like "fourth wall" glimpses of an audience, jump cut editing, and electric guitar (courtesy of Pink Floyd's David Gilmour), ensure the material transcends its art house-period piece roots. Director Clare Peploe adapted the script with her husband, Bernardo Bertolucci (LAST TANGO IN PARIS, STEALING BEAUTY), who also produced. It was filmed in Tuscany.
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