VHS : The Honest Courtesan [1999]

Rating: - Spellbinding swashbuckler
This is a fantastic, passionate romp of a film. A great, sweeping swashbuckler of a romance - with a twist: the swashbuckler in question is a woman. A film for true romantics and lovers of good old fashioned adventure stories.

The central lead played by Catherine McCormack, is an extremely intelligent, brave beautiful young woman in renaissance Venice. Coerced into the role of Courtesan she plays the part with honour and independence of mind.

One of my top three films of last year (along with American Beauty and Saving Grace, for anyone who wants to know). Its just so DIFFERENT from the mindless violence type of adventure offered up by Hollywood. It has a real feel of fantastic early cinema - Imagine an Errol Flyn film blended with a great Katherine Hepburn movie and you'll have a pretty good idea of what you're in for.

---

Rating: - A beautifully filmed representation of Venice!
This elegant story filmed beautifully, depicts a fabulous love story and commitment to a cause, Catherine Maccormack is as gorgeous as ever playing a confident articulate and self-assured woman totally believing in her cause, closely followed by the delicious Rufus Sewell playing a loveable charmer, whose dashing good-looks made him most aptly cast for the part. This film is a joy to watch, with comedy, love, drama and beauty, and absolute treasure!