In an otherwise admirable performance (although many felt her miscast), Jodie Foster struggles with her Victorian accent as Anna, the grieving widow who arrives in Siam in 1860 with her young son. Having accepted a post as tutor for the many children of the polygamous King Mongkut (Chow Yun-Fat), Anna finds herself drawn to the progressive monarch, whose passions swirl in a turbulent political climate. If the chemistry isn't entirely there, this culture clash still has plenty of regal charm, and Luciana Arrighi's production design is appropriately magnificent. Humor and politics are given equal measure, and Chow Yun-Fat is arguably the most endearing king to date--powerful yet tender, forceful but anguished by the heavier burdens of leadership. Bai Ling's intense performance as the tragic lover Tuptim adds emotional depth to one of the most underrated films of 1999. --Jeff Shannon

Product Description
Academy Award winner Jodie Foster and international action star Chow Yun-Fat star in this epic true story of a woman who challenged the heart of a king and inspired the destiny of a nation.English schoolteacher Anna Leonowens has traveled to Siam to educate the fifty-eight children of King Mongkut. If she has preconceived notions about the East the King has similar notions about the West. But amid the danger of growing political unrest their respect for each other slowly turns into something more.System Requirements:Starring: Jodie Foster Chow Yun-Fat and Bai Ling. Directed By: Andy Tennant. Running Time: 147 Min. Color. This film is presented in "Widescreen" format. Copyright 2001 Twentieth Century Fox.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: PG-13 UPC: 024543000440 Manufacturer No: 2000044