A Handful Of Dust (1988)

A bored and restless wife (Kristin Scott Thomas) married to a wealthy aristocrat (James Wilby) begins an affair with a shiftless n'er do well (Rupert Graves) but when tragedy strikes, both their worlds are turned topsy turvy. Based on the novel by Evelyn Waugh (THE LOVED ONE) and directed by Charles Sturridge (BRIDESHEAD REVISITED). The film starts out seemingly like yet another Masterpiece theatre effort focusing on the effete and bland English upper classes. We think we know where it's going but then all our expectations are turned on its head. The first portion of the film is devoted to Scott Thomas's character and the second half focuses on Wilby's character. None of them are very likable so it takes a lot for the film to drag out our empathy but eventually it does. The director and co-scripters Derek Granger and Tim Sullivan don't eliminate Waugh's satire entirely but they severely neuter much of it. Two supporting turns are impressive, Anjelica Huston as a family friend's enigmatic mistress and Alec Guinness as Wilby's diabolical guardian angel. The delicate score is by George Fenton. With Judi Dench and Stephen Fry.