How best to describe this film?  Set in 1920's China, while Britain still trying to hold onto control of a colony while revolution (or at least self-rule) continues to seem more likely, the story is really a love tale of sorts.  Produced by and starring Edward Norton and Naomi Watts, the backdrop of China reflects the state of their relationship as husband and wife - at moments peaceful and beautiful, at others dangerous and violent, and at others terrifying and full of despair.

Norton plays Dr. Walter Fane, a bacteriologist civil servant stationed in Shanghai.  In England for a short time, he proposes to the beautiful Kitty (Naomi Watts) who is feeling stifled and bored by society's rules, and moreso is looking for any opportunity to get away from her household and her overbearing mother.  The couple returns to China, quickly to discover that they have very little in common.  Kitty is playful and talkative, while Walter is quiet and studious.  But he does love her, and Walter does what he can to make her happy despite how uncomfortable he is in both public and private social situations. 

Looking for a thrill, Kitty begins an affair with Vice Consul Charles Townsend (Liev Schreiber).  Walter quickly learns of the adultery and gives Kitty a choice (after revealing to her the less-than-honest nature of Townsend's affcetions) - accept a scandalous divorce, or accompany him to inland China where he has volunteered his services to help fight the worst Cholera epidemic seen in some time. 

Surrounded by the depair and death and misery of the ravaged village, but within the backdrop of the beauty of the glorious lands around them, the couple has to learn to find strength within themselves, while in the process discovering that while their initial expectations of each other may have been foolish, there is much to admire - and love - within the complicated facets of a human being.

Diana Rigg of Avengers fame makes an appearance as the Mother Superior of the local convent, and Toby Jones is steady throughout as a British civil servant determined to do his duty despite how miserable the situation may be.  But somehow this film finds ways to rise above the dank depths of death and despair, and instead offers hope that while love may not be able to conquer all, it can certainly bring happiness into an otherwise unhappy life.