Twenty-second Bond film called 'Quantum of Solace'

By Anastasia Tomazhenkova: "Quantum of Solace" has been announced as the name of the 22nd Bond movie. Producers claim it remains to be seen if any elements of the story will be retained.

Photo: Twenty-second Bond film called 'Quantum of Solace'

The title of the 22nd Bond adventure, which had been a closely guarded secret, was revealed to reporters on the set of the movie at Pinewood Studios outside of London.

Producer Michael G. Wilson said the title, chosen only a few days ago, was taken from a story by Bond creator Ian Fleming that appears in the collection "For Your Eyes Only."

"We thought it was an intriguing title and referenced what happened to Bond and what is happening in the film," he said.

Ian Fleming's "Quantum of Solace" is not a spy story and Bond appears only in the background. The tale has Bond attending a boring dinner party at the Government House in Nassau with a group of socialites he can't stand.

Bond makes an offensive remark after dinner when the other guests have left in order to stimulate conversation. This solicits a careful reply from the elderly Governor of The Bahamas who tells 007 a sad tale about a relationship between former civil servant Philip Masters stationed in Bermuda and air hostess Rhoda Llewellyn. After meeting aboard a flight to London the two eventually married but after a time Rhoda became unhappy with her life as a housewife. She then began a long open affair with the eldest son of a rich Bermudan family. As a result Masters' work deteriorated and he suffered a nervous breakdown. After recovering he was given a break from Bermuda by the governor and sent on an assignment to Washington to negotiate fishing rights with the US. At the same time the governor's wife had a talk with Rhoda just as her affair ended. Masters returned a few months later and decided to end his marriage, although he and Rhoda continued to appear as a happy couple in public. Masters returned alone to the UK, leaving a penniless Rhoda stranded in Bermuda, an act of which he'd been incapable of merely months earlier. But Masters never recovered emotionally, his vital spark never relit. The governor goes on to tell Bond how after a time Rhoda married a rich Canadian and seems to be happy, telling Bond that his dull dinner companions whom he found so boring were Rhoda and her new husband.

While the story does not include action elements, as other Fleming tales do, it attempts to posit that Bond's adventures pale in comparison with real life drama. Bond reflects that the lives of the people he passes somewhat superficial judgments upon can in fact hide poignant episodes.

The film "Quantum of Solace" sees Daniel Craig return as Agent 007 for a second film and picks up where 2006's "Casino Royale" left off, with Bond contemplating revenge after his betrayal by his true love Vesper Lynd.

"It is not a revenge movie," said co-producer Barbara Broccoli. "It's a lot more complicated than that. It has lots of action but it also deals with the inner turmoil Bond is feeling."

Filming began at Pinewood earlier this month and location shooting is planned in Austria, Italy and Panama. Judi Dench returns as the MI-6 boss M and French actor Mathieu Amalric ("The Diving Bell and the Butterfly") plays the villain. Additions to the cast include Ukrainian actress Olga Kurylenko as mysterious Bond girl Camille.

The film is due to open in Britain and the United States Nov. 7.