当爱情最后来到的时候，他们已经是天人永隔了。。。

故事开始于二十世纪初的伦敦，Walter 是个沉默、清高的研究细菌学的医生，在一个社交聚会上对kitty一见钟情，并很快向kitty求婚。。。彼时的kitty美丽、虚荣、任性，虽然不爱Walter，却接受了他的求婚。Walter 把kitty带回上海。在发现kitty和外交馆Townsend之间的婚外情后，决然地带着Kitty到当时霍乱横行的梅潭府工作。他们本来就是那么不同的人，在战乱、瘟疫、贫穷的中国小山村，在生命的边缘，他们都在改变，并逐渐发现对方的闪光点。如果说Walter是由爱到恨到谅解，当他看到kitty给孤儿院的孩子弹钢琴时，他对她所有的恨都已经消散，却有了更深刻的爱。Kitty则从不爱到恨到了解，当Walter感染霍乱最后死去，她对他的爱亦是无怨无悔。

电影的结局是kitty回到伦敦，依旧美丽，但更成熟、坚强，带着对Walter的怀念。虽然偏离了原作，却有更积极的影响。。。也许最美好的旅程就是走在两个人心路之间的旅程吧。。。

Edward Norton 为这部片子准备了六年，Naomi Watts 的演绎亦另人着迷。。。

Lift Not The Painted Veil Which Those Who Live
Percy Bysshe Shelley

Lift not the painted veil which those who live
Call Life: though unreal shapes be pictured there,
And it but mimic all we would believe
With colours idly spread,—behind, lurk Fear
And Hope, twin Destinies; who ever weave
Their shadows, o’er the chasm, sightless and drear.
I knew one who had lifted it—he sought,
For his lost heart was tender, things to love,
But found them not, alas! nor was there aught
The world contains, the which he could approve.
Through the unheeding many he did move,
A splendour among shadows, a bright blot
Upon this gloomy scene, a Spirit that strove
For truth, and like the Preacher found it not.