Watch The Aspern Papers

The Aspern Papers is a period drama film that tells the story of a passionate American publisher named Morton Vint (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) who travels to Venice, Italy in search of unpublished letters written by the Romantic poet Jeffrey Aspern. Vint is convinced that the letters, which were written to Aspern's former lover, Juliana Bordereau (Vanessa Redgrave), will be his ticket to literary fame and fortune.

Upon arriving in Venice, Vint poses as a lodger and befriends the aged and reclusive Bordereau and her patriotic and controlling niece, Miss Tina (Joely Richardson). Through a series of conversations and interactions, Vint comes to realize that the letters he seeks are deeply personal and that Bordereau has no intention of revealing them to anyone, particularly a stranger.

Despite his disappointment, Vint persists and attempts to win the trust of both Bordereau and Tina. Through his persistence and charm, Vint manages to get closer to Bordereau and learn more about her life and her relationship with Aspern. However, his obsession with the letters begins to border on ethical and moral lines as he tries to manipulate and coerce Bordereau into giving him the letters.

As tensions rise, the relationships between Vint, Bordereau, and Tina become increasingly complex and fraught with hidden motives and secrets. Vint's desire for the letters comes into sharp focus and the consequences of his actions threaten to destroy the fragile bonds he has formed with the two ladies.

The Aspern Papers is a beautifully shot film that captures the beauty and mystery of Venice. The costumes and sets are sumptuous and evocative of the Victorian era in which the story takes place. The performances of the three main leads are nuanced and compelling, particularly Vanessa Redgrave as the frail and indomitable Juliana Bordereau.

The direction by Julien Landais is steady and assured, capturing both the drama and the underlying melancholy that pervades the story. The use of flashbacks to tell the story of Aspern and Bordereau's relationship is effective and poignant.

Overall, The Aspern Papers is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant film that explores the themes of obsession, love, and the pursuit of artistic greatness. While it may not be for everyone, those who appreciate period dramas and literary adaptations will find much to enjoy in this well-crafted and engrossing film.

The Aspern Papers is a 2019 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.6 and a MetaScore of 28.