Review of the movie “The House of Mirth” 

based on Edith Wharton’s novel of the same name

Reviewed by Gerti

With a title like that, you would think the movie would be filled with light moments, a breezy comedy perhaps, and nothing at all like a movie titled “Bleak House”. Think again! “The House of Mirth” is a humorless tale with a very sad ending for the film’s protagonist Lily Bart, played by Gillian Anderson of X-files fame.  

Anderson must have felt as though she were in an episode about other-worldly happenings while making this film, because the costumes and sets are gorgeous, and definitely evocative of the early parts of this century. The story ostensibly starts in 1906 New York, where Bart visits a man she loves, and hopes to marry, played by Eric Stoltz. She is one of those penniless young women of any time who are on the prowl for a wealthy spouse, and yet the man she loves has to work for his money (as a lawyer, though!) and so he would be a bad match for her. As if he’d ask her! He’s a gorgeous creature, and has already seduced Bart’s married friend, Bertha. When Bart buys their love letters from the cleaning woman, the viewer thinks she will use them to her advantage. 

But Bart does not, even after being advised to do so by a male suitor, Rosedale. He’s in love with her beauty and charm, but she won’t consider his proposal, despite the fact that he’s very wealthy, because he’s a social climber and not one of her kind. Those of her own social circle, however, use her quite badly. Friend Bertha takes her on a cruise, but Lily finds out it is only to distract her husband while Bertha carries on with yet another younger male conquest. Bertha then publically disrespects Lily by throwing her off the yacht, and the conclusions that society draws are obvious – Lily has been trying to seduce husband George. While it’s not true, Lily foolishly won’t use the letters proving Bertha’s infidelity to save her reputation. And that noble choice begins her descent .

When her wealthy aunt, from whom she was expecting to inherit, learns of Lily’s alleged escapades, she practically cuts her out of the will, leaving everything to a meek cousin who’s been gossiping about Lily to her. Lily tries to appeal to both women, but they will not relent and give her money, or even shelter her when things go sideways. Lily is forced into a flat of her own, and forced to find a job, first as a social secretary, still on society’s fringes, but then as a milliner’s apprentice. She is not suited for such work and is soon fired. Lily makes one final appeal to the man she loves, before leaving him the love letters that would open him to ridicule. He finds them and runs to her, but it is too late. She would rather die than blackmail him, or have his playboy character revealed. 

This story is a bleak portrayal of the choices a woman has and the perils she faces when she plays the game of love. Because she won’t compromise her morals, her social snobbishness, or her romantic but doomed love, Lily is a tragic character ill-suited to the game she has tried but failed to win.