The Painted Veil (2006)

A haunting tale of love unrequited but eventually discovered against the backdrop of natural beauty and human tragedy. Edward Norton is a bookish British microbiologist absorbed in his work -- now that's acting! -- who proposes marriage to Naomi Watts the day after meeting her at a high-society party because he must return to his research station in Shanghai. They don't love each other, and he comes to hate her after she commences an affair with a career diplomat who (she later learns) makes a habit of loving and leaving "second-rate" Englishwomen. Her husband then volunteers himself (and his cloistered wife) to fight a deadly cholera outbreak in backwater China. While no Mother Theresa, she wrestles with her feelings of compassion and inadequacy before committing to assist a convent-ion of nuns in their school and hospice care of a passel of orphans. Over time, the couple comes to a rapprochement over their prior expectations for each other -- more than a detente and eventually a sincere (if tragic) love. The movie strays from the book at a number of points but holds well together. If you liked Sommersby or Sweet Land then The Painted Veil should please you well. 5 stars.