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Review

A glittering and sad journey into the world of Lily Bart (Gillian Anderson of X-Files), a shamed society woman trained to do nothing but seek a rich husband - instead forced into a menial job. Openly gay director Terence Davies (The Neon Bible) new film is a superb period piece filled with gorgeous details and exquisite performances. Based on the Edith Warton novel about an gorgeous orphaned society woman who was raised by her unhappy aunt, the film sticks close to the book in re-telling this sad story. Lily had a small income, and was supported by her aunt until she was imprudent and lost money playing cards. Her aunt wrote her out of her will and travelled without her niece. Lily was then asked to travel with her friend Bertha (Linney) on her yacht to Europe. Bertha was having an affair with the love of Lily's life Lawrence Selden (Stoltz) and went ashore to have a rendevous, leaving Lily alone with Bertha's husband. The next day Bertha announced that Lily would not be sleeping on the yacht that evening thereby shaming her into temporary homelessness. Abanded by her so-called "friends" this single penniless and indebted woman was left ruined.