a victorian period drama with quasi erotic bit . poorly act and bland and boring and for much of the time very predictable for me . the main character be pretty lame and be act much the same . mark rylance and a william adamson and seem to have perfect an expression of blank emotion ( or maybe it just boredom ) . patsy kensit character exist to simply have a different frock on in every scene she in or get her kit off . douglas henshall provide the evil character and be actually quite good and he doesn not overdo it so it never reach the pantomime stage and however annette badland have no trouble in reach these dizzy height a lady alabaster ( pk character mother ) . kristin scott thomas play a subdued second female lead and and like henshall and come away with some credit one have to assume it not the actor fault a the director and philip haas and surely get what he ask for . how on earth this get the even standard award for best british film in 1995 beggar belief ( it must have be a bad year ) .