Anna and the King movie storyline. The true story of Anna Leonowens’ experiences as a governess to the children of an eccentric Asian king has been adapted into a book of memoirs, a biography, a stage play called Anna and the King of Siam — which was adapted into a 1946 film, a stage musical called The King and I — made into both the live-action The King and I (1956)) and the animated The King and I (1999) feature films, and a short-lived 1972 TV series.
Now the story is brought to the screen yet again, as Jodie Foster stars as Leonowens, hired by the king of Thailand (Chow Yun-Fat) in the 19th century to help care for his children. The king wants the best for his children, but Anna soon discovers that he is a strong-willed but quixotic leader, and her stay in Thailand becomes a struggle for power with romantic overtones, as they decide who will have authority over the royal youngsters. Anna and the King was directed by Andy Tennant, best known for his 1998 variation on the Cinderella story, Ever After.
Anna and the King is a 1999 biographical drama film loosely based on the 1944 novel Anna and the King of Siam (and its 1946 film adaptation), which give a fictionalised account of the diaries of Anna Leonowens. The story concerns Anna, an English schoolteacher in Siam, now Thailand, in the late 19th century, who becomes the teacher of King Mongkut’s many children and wives.
The film was directed by Andy Tennant and stars Jodie Foster, Yun-Fat Chow, Bai Ling, Tom Felton, Randall Duk Kim, Melissa Campbell, Keith Chin, Mano Maniam, Deanna Yusoff, Ann Firbank, Geoffrey Palmer. It was mostly shot in Malaysia, particularly in the Penang, Ipoh and Langkawi region. It was an Academy Award nominee in 1999 for Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design.
About the Story
Anna Leonowens (Jodie Foster) is a British widow who has come to Siam with her son Louis (Tom Felton) to teach English to the dozens of children of King Mongkut (Chow Yun-fat). She is a strong-willed, intelligent, valiant and benevolent woman for her time, and this pleases the King. Mongkut wants to modernize Siam, thinking this will help his country resist colonialism and protect the ancient traditions that give Siam its identity.
Mongkut and Anna discuss differences between Eastern and Western love, but he dismisses the notion that a man can be happy with only one wife. In order to win favors through Britain’s ambassadors, Mongkut orders a sumptuous reception and appoints Anna to organize it. During the reception, the King spars graciously and wittily with Sir Mycroft Kincaid (Bill Stewart), of the East India Company. The Europeans express their beliefs that Siam is a superstitious, backward nation. Mongkut dances with Anna at the reception.
Anna is enchanted by the royal children, particularly Princess Fa-Ying (Melissa Campbell). The little girl adores the playful monkeys who live in the royal garden’s trees. When Fa-Ying falls sick with cholera, Anna is summoned to her chambers to say goodbye. She gets there just as Fa-Ying dies in King Mongkut’s arms, and the two mourn together.
Mongkut later finds that one of the monkeys “borrowed” his glasses as his daughter used to do. He finds comfort for his grief in his belief in reincarnation, with a notion that Fa-ying might be reborn as one of her beloved animals. Lady Tuptim (Bai Ling), the King’s newest concubine, was already engaged to marry another man, Khun Phra Balat (Sean Ghazi), when she was brought to court. Mongkut is kind to her, but Tuptim yearns for her true love.
She disguises herself as a young man and runs away, joining the monastery where her former fiancé lives. She is tracked down, returned to the palace, and put on trial where she is caned. Anna, unable to bear the sight, tries to prevent the execution and is forcibly removed from the court. Her outburst prevents Mongkut from showing clemency, because he cannot be seen as beholden to her, though he feels ashamed. Tuptim and Balat are beheaded publicly.
Anna and the King (1999)
Directed by: Andy Tennant
Starring: Jodie Foster, Yun-Fat Chow, Bai Ling, Tom Felton, Randall Duk Kim, Melissa Campbell, Keith Chin, Mano Maniam, Deanna Yusoff, Ann Firbank, Geoffrey Palmer
Screenplay by: Steve Meerson, Peter Krikes
Production Design by: Luciana Arrighi
Cinematography by: Caleb Deschanel
Film Editing by: Roger Bondelli
Costume Design by: Jenny Beavan
Set Decoration by: Ian Whittaker
Art Direction by: Lek Chaiyan Chunsuttiwat, Marc Fisichella, Paul Ghirardani, Tom Nursey, John Ralph
Music by: George Fenton, Robert Kraft
MPAA Rating; PG-13 for some intense violent sequences.
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: December 17, 1999
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