Synopsis:
Set in the rarified world of affluent American expatriate England and Italy between 1903 and 1909, THE GOLDEN BOWL tells the story of an extravagantly rich American widower and his sheltered daughter, both of whom marry only to discover...
Set in the rarified world of affluent American expatriate England and Italy between 1903 and 1909, THE GOLDEN BOWL tells the story of an extravagantly rich American widower and his sheltered daughter, both of whom marry only to discover that their respective mates are romantically entangled with one another. ADAM VERVER (Nick Nolte), America's first billionaire, and his daughter MAGGIE (Kate Beckinsale) live a privileged life in Europe, surrounding themselves with beautiful objects and amassing one of the world's greatest art collections. Their intimate family circle expands when Maggie decides to marry PRINCE AMERIGO (Jeremy Northam), an impoverished (but authentically aristocratic) descendent of a long line of Italian princes, and invites her beautiful, but impecunious school friend CHARLOTTE STANT (Uma Thurman) to attend their wedding.
Amerigo and Charlotte have a secret. They are lovers, forced to separate because they are too poor to marry each other. While Charlotte knows that their affair must end, she cannot control her passion for Amerigo. She hides her emotions as best she can, feigning happiness for the couple. She and the Prince have one last rendezvous when they shop together for a wedding present for Maggie. They find an unusual golden bowl, but reject it when they discover that it has a hidden flaw.
As Amerigo settles into a domestic routine with Maggie, he discovers that his marriage has a flaw, too. His wife and her father are inseparable, just as they were before her marriage. Maggie invites Charlotte to be their houseguest and encourages her to spend time with Adam, too. In a sudden and seemingly happy twist of fate, Adam proposes to Charlotte and she accepts, despite the age difference between them. For the first time in her life, she is a wealthy woman. But her newfound security is a mixed blessing. As time passes, and Adam and Maggie retreat deeper and deeper into their private world. Charlotte and Amerigo realize that, like the magnificent works of art that surround them, they have become prized additions to the Verver collection.
Convinced that fate has brought them together a second time, Charlotte and Amerigo surrender to their passions, secretly betraying their seemingly unsuspecting spouses. But the elusive golden bowl comes back to haunt them, changing Maggie's perception of her relationship with her husband and provoking her to do anything to accomplish her new and most important goal: to have a marriage without a flaw, at any expense. -- © 2001 Lions Gate
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