When All That Remains is a Shell The Remains of the Day

This is the story of a properly-run English household and its butler, Mr. Stevens (Anthony Hopkins), who keeps everything in perfect order and running without a hitch. Unfortunately, the human element in running any house makes it impossible to not have a few challenges every now and then, such as a housekeeper and an under-butler running off together to get married.

To take the place of the amorous couple Stevens hires one Miss Kenton (Emma Thompson) against his better judgement because of the chance that such a young and attractive woman would also be wanting to get married near into the future, but as there were no better applicants she took the position. Stevens then hires his aging father as his new under-butler with the permission of the master of the house.

Later on all the household help are enjoying a lighthearted story around the dinner table about what makes a good butler...to graciously attend to every minuscule detail without upsetting the master of the house or his guests. During an international conference held in the house we see just how important this is to Mr. Stevens when his father dies in another part of the house when the dinner is underway and the dutiful Stevens refuses to let it interfere with his work.

Throughout the film we go back and forth between the house in post-WWII Britain to that same house during the 1930's as the master of the house entertains Nazi officials and orders the dismissal of Jewish servants. In the midst of it all we also see the unspoken and almost wholly unexpressed romance between this dedicated butler and the housekeeper, even after she leaves the household to marry.

Anthony Hopkins has ever been, in my estimation, an extremely talented actor; he has the ability to be completely convincing in any role he plays, whether it be a psychotic genius, a man who's been living with gorillas, or a well-groomed and perfectly-mannered butler who would never allow personal feelings to get in the way of his work or even show at all to those who don't know what they're looking for.

Hopkins' co-star, Emma Thompson, has also played a fairly wide range of roles successfully even though I haven't seen nearly as many of her films, though all that I have seen she has performed very well. The cast of this movie also boasts such names as Hugh Grant, Christopher Reeve, James Fox, Peter Vaughan, and Anthony Hopkins' own daughter Abigail Harrison (Hopkins).

The story itself is definitely for those who enjoy watching and thinking about a movie and do not require a happy ending. This film is a very intriguing character study of a man who is truly married to his work and will not allow any part of his life for his entire life ever get in the way of his duty...it is not until that life has dwindled to a hollow shell that he finally admits that it may have been a waste.

The setting is fairly stark and the plot fairly subtle. There is no pay-off for those who need everything to be resolved and to have some sort of closure. In fact, there is little or no conclusion to most of the story lines in this movie. I personally like the lack of conclusions when it is presented as artfully as this because it gives room for speculation about what happened to all of the characters involved and what actually caused the disgrace of the master of the house and what eventually happened to him.

In short, this film basically cuts a piece out of the lives of the people involved and puts it up for display with only hints of what else is there. This may aggravate some people but will surely fascinate others, and if this is the sort of film you enjoy then this one is a must-see.

Like good movies? Check out CaptainD's Good Movie Write-Off for more