The White Countess takes place in the glamorous, corrupt, and boomtown atmosphere of 30s Shanghai that is soon to be swept away by advancing Japanese armies and civil war. At its center is the blind American diplomat Todd Jackson (Ralph Fiennes) and Sofia Belinskaya (Natasha Richardson), a refugee Russian Aristocrat making a living in a taxi dancehall and as an occasional prostitute. Jackson, aided by his mysterious Japanese friend, the spy Matsuda (Hiroyuki Sanada), opens a successful nightclub and installs Countess Sofia as its centerpiece. In the spectacular mass exodus from the city which is the climax of the film, Sofia is abandoned by her in laws, played by the Redgrave sisters, (Vanessa and Lynn Redgrave) who secretly try to flee with Sofia's small daughter, Katya (Madeleine Daly). In the end mother and daughter are reunited, as Sofia and Jackson, realizing their growing love for each other escape with Katya to the safety of Macao.
Rahila Bootwala, an associate producer representing Merchant Ivory Productions, was at the forefront of establishing the first official co-production between China and England. Together with Shanghai film studios, she worked closely on the project from its development phase until its completion. She contributed significantly to building a strong partnership between the Chinese and English teams.
