Priya Kapoor
The 2006 film 'The Painted Veil' is a romantic drama starring Naomi Watts and Edward Norton as an English couple, Kitty and Walter, who travel to a small village in China in the 1920s. The film is an adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham's novel of the same name and revolves around the theme of disease, specifically cholera, which was ravaging the village at the time. The audience is shown the harsh reality of the disease, including the suffering, pain, and death it caused, as well as the impact it had on the community. The film explores how Walter, a bacteriologist, works to combat the disease while also dealing with his complicated relationship with Kitty.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the disease | Cholera |
| Symptoms | Suffering, crying out in pain, vomiting, death |
| Treatment | Clean water, quarantine |
| Outcome | Death of Dr. Walter Fane |
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What You'll Learn
Cholera epidemic in a Chinese village
Cholera is an infectious disease that has caused seven pandemics over the past 200 years. The first cholera pandemic began in India around 1817 and spread to China, Indonesia, and the Caspian Sea in Europe. The sixth cholera pandemic, which lasted from 1899 to 1923, is the epidemic portrayed in the 2006 film "The Painted Veil."
In the movie, Dr. Walter Fane (Edward Norton) and his wife, Kitty (Naomi Watts), travel to a small village in China to fight a cholera outbreak. Walter, a bacteriologist, works to control the disease while Kitty volunteers at an orphanage. As their relationship improves, Kitty becomes pregnant but is unsure who the father is. Just as the local cholera problem seems to be under control, refugees from other cholera-stricken areas arrive, and Walter sets up a camp for them outside the village. Unfortunately, he contracts the disease, and despite Kitty's nursing, he dies. Heartbroken and pregnant, Kitty returns to London with her young son.
Cholera outbreaks have been a recurring issue in China, with several epidemics occurring in the early 20th century. One notable outbreak began in Manila, Philippines, in 1919 and spread to Shanghai, China, the following month. Over 400 daily cases were reported in Shanghai, and the epidemic swept across East Asia until October 1919. The rapid spread of the disease was attributed to water contamination, infected flies, and the consumption of contaminated food and raw fruit.
During the Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945), cholera outbreaks were overshadowed by health issues directly linked to the war. However, between 1945 and 1952, cholera was endemic throughout China, along with other diseases such as plague and malaria. The flooding of the Yellow River in 1938, a tactic used to halt the Japanese advance, also contributed to the spread of infectious diseases in the affected areas.
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Refugees spread cholera
In the 2006 film The Painted Veil, cholera is the disease that Dr Walter Fane, played by Edward Norton, battles in a small Chinese village. The disease is also what eventually takes his life.
Cholera is a highly transmissible disease that is endemic to parts of Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and South America. It is estimated that there are 3–5 million cholera cases annually, with an estimated 100,000–120,000 deaths. The disease is typically spread through polluted water sources and contaminated food.
Refugee camps are particularly vulnerable to cholera outbreaks due to overcrowding, unclean water, and inadequate sanitation. These factors, combined with the health risks associated with displacement and inadequate initial water and sanitation conditions among incoming populations, create an environment where cholera can spread rapidly.
In 1994, the largest refugee camp–related cholera outbreak ever reported occurred in the North Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Within a month, 58,000–80,000 cases of cholera occurred, with a crude mortality rate of 25–35 deaths per 10,000 people per day, far exceeding the emergency threshold of one death per 10,000 per day.
More recently, in 2022, Kenya's Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps experienced a 55-fold increase in cholera cases, straining health resources and infrastructure. The camps were already overcrowded, and the influx of refugees from Somalia and South Sudan due to conflict and drought further exacerbated the situation.
To prevent and control cholera in refugee settings, timely and appropriate camp planning, preparedness, coordination with local health authorities, and adherence to minimum WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) standards are crucial. Oral cholera vaccination campaigns, such as the one conducted in Mae La, Thailand, in 2013, can also be effective in preventing cholera outbreaks in refugee populations.
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Dr Walter contracts cholera
Dr Walter Fane, a bacteriologist, travels to a small village in China with his wife, Kitty, in the 1920s. There, he attempts to fight a cholera outbreak. Cholera is a severe and often fatal disease that causes "rice-water" diarrhea, the hemorrhaging of liquids from the mouth, and violent muscle contractions that continue even after death. It is typically spread through contaminated drinking water, as the cholera bacterium thrives in water sources that have been contaminated by human faeces.
As Walter and the locals start to get the outbreak under control, cholera-carrying refugees arrive from elsewhere and set up camp outside the village. Unfortunately, Walter contracts the disease and, despite being lovingly nursed by Kitty, he dies.
The film, The Painted Veil, is based on W. Somerset Maugham's novel of the same name. It depicts the tragic story of Walter and Kitty's loveless partnership, which is tested by the harsh environment and the deadly disease that they must face together. The novel is described as "unremittingly bleak", and the film adaptation remains true to this tone, presenting a complex and absorbing narrative.
In the context of the film's setting in the 1920s, the treatment options for cholera would have been limited. Orthodox treatments during the 19th century included bleeding, purging, opium, and astringents such as lead acetate. While some advocated for oral or intravenous salt solutions, this idea was not widely accepted at the time.
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Kitty nurses Walter
Kitty and Walter's relationship in the 2006 film The Painted Veil is a complicated one. The film is a romantic drama set in the 1920s and is based on the 1925 novel of the same name by W. Somerset Maugham.
Kitty, an upper-class woman, and Walter, a middle-class doctor, get married for the wrong reasons and relocate to Shanghai, where she falls in love with someone else. Walter discovers Kitty's infidelity with Charlie Townsend, a witty diplomat. In an act of vengeance, Walter accepts a job in a remote village in mainland China ravaged by a cholera outbreak and takes Kitty with him.
In China, Walter works to control the cholera outbreak by creating a system of aqueducts to transport clean water. However, cholera-carrying refugees from elsewhere arrive in the area, and Walter sets up a camp for them outside town. Unfortunately, Walter contracts the disease and Kitty lovingly nurses him back to health. Despite her efforts, Walter dies, leaving Kitty devastated and pregnant. She returns to London, where she raises her son, also named Walter.
Kitty's journey with Walter to the cholera-stricken village in China brings meaning to their relationship and gives them a shared purpose in a remote and beautiful place. Although their marriage starts off cold and indifferent, it blossoms as Kitty volunteers at an orphanage, and Walter sees her in a new light, realising she is not shallow or selfish. Despite the tragic ending of Walter's death, Kitty finds solace in their child and returns to London to raise him, seemingly happy and well-dressed.
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Kitty leaves China
In the 2006 film adaptation of The Painted Veil, the disease that Dr. Walter Fane (Edward Norton) fights to eradicate in a small Chinese village is cholera. Now, let's focus on the topic "Kitty Leaves China" with a detailed narrative:
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting an orange hue over the ancient city, Kitty (Naomi Watts) made her way through the bustling streets of Shanghai. The vibrant, chaotic energy of the city, with its bustling markets and crowded alleyways, provided a stark contrast to the quiet, isolated village where she had spent the past several months. With each step, she felt the weight of the past few months bearing down on her. The memories of her time in the village, the heartache of her failing marriage, and the guilt over her affair with Charlie Townsend (Liev Schreiber) weighed heavily on her mind.
Kitty had made the difficult decision to leave China and return to England, knowing that it meant leaving her husband, Dr. Walter Fane, and the life they had built together. The rift between them had grown too wide to bridge, and the pain of their estranged relationship was too much to bear. As she navigated the crowded docks, the sounds of hawkers peddling their wares and the cries of seagulls overhead filled the air. She made her way towards the grand ocean liner that would carry her back to her homeland.
A sense of both anticipation and apprehension filled her as she boarded the ship. The luxurious cabins and elegant dining halls were a world away from the simple life she had led in the Chinese village. As the ship pulled away from the dock, Kitty stood at the railing, watching as the vibrant, mysterious landscape of China slowly faded from view. She felt a tug on her heartstrings as she said goodbye to a place that had brought her so much pain but had also taught her valuable lessons about love, sacrifice, and self-discovery.
During the long voyage back to England, Kitty spent her days reflecting on the transformative experiences she had in China. The memories of the village children she had grown to love, the beauty of the rural landscapes, and the sense of community she had found among the Chinese people filled her thoughts. She realized that despite the heartache and challenges she had faced, her time in China had enriched her life in ways she never could have imagined.
As the ship docked in England, Kitty stepped onto familiar soil with a sense of trepidation. The grey skies and chilly breeze welcomed her back to a world that felt foreign after her immersive experience in China. She knew that returning to her old life would be challenging, but she also felt a sense of resolve and strength that came from surviving the trials she had faced. The journey had forced her to confront her weaknesses and grow into a more compassionate and self-aware woman.
Thus, Kitty's departure from China marked not only a geographical leaving but also an emotional and spiritual transition. It signified the end of one chapter of her life and the beginning of another, setting her on a path of self-discovery and personal growth.
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Frequently asked questions
Cholera.
The film depicts people suffering from cholera as crying out in pain and vomiting. One scene shows a man lying dead in the street, his body ravaged by the disease.
Cholera is a waterborne disease, often spread by contaminated water supplies.
In the context of the film's setting—the 1920s—there were limited treatment options for cholera. Once someone was infected, there was little a physician could do.
The Painted Veil is a love story between Walter, a middle-class doctor, and Kitty, an upper-class woman. They get married for the wrong reasons and relocate to Shanghai, where Kitty falls in love with someone else. When Walter uncovers her infidelity, he accepts a job in a remote Chinese village ravaged by cholera and takes Kitty with him.
