Not that much happens in the film, but it's more of a character study. Helps if you already know something about them, or their works.
One oddity. The casting is good, but the Virginia actor is about a head taller than the Vita. In real life though, Virginia was 5'7" while Vita was almost 6'.
Did you watch this in the US? Where is it streaming?
shareI'd like to know too. This movie looks like a treasure.
shareIt does. Did you see Portrait of a Marriage?
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098897/
On Hulu:
https://www.hulu.com/movie/vita-virginia-3b941090-e95a-4944-8f2c-d1e7918d404e
Thanks!
shareIf you see it, let us know what you think!
shareI watched it over the weekend but I’m still processing it.
To start with, I think it’s a good character study of both women. I really liked the film and am very pleased I was able to see it. Having read quite a bit of Woolf’s work and some of Sackville-West’s, I really did not want to miss these portrayals.
I agree about the height issue of the actresses, especially in the moments when Vita is seen in a sort of “power” position vs Virginia.
For example, there’s a moment the very first time Vita touches Virginia. And you can see how Virginia is affected by it. Her facial reaction conveys it. But how much better would that depiction have worked if Vita had been taller than Virginia, as she was in real life? Virginia holding back emotionally, and Vita pushing forward emotionally doesn’t have the same impact with Virginia towering over Vita.
Similarly the first time Vita kisses Virginia. As the taller person she would appear as having the advantage. And, in fact, it is rather silly to see Arterton struggling to meet lips with Debicki. Perhaps a little movie magic would have helped both of those scenes, like placing Debicki on a lower step from Arterton.
Sorry to quibble about such a thing but I couldn’t help thinking it, especially after having seen Janet McTeer play Sackville-West in Portrait of a Marriage. That said, both Arterton and Debicki gave inspiring performances. The acting was excellent.
I also agree with the comment about the music. I also found it slightly off-putting. Something period accurate, or period neutral (strings) would have been more effective.
Incidentally I came across an excellent interview with Eileen Atkins and Vanessa Redgrave at the time (mid 90s) they were appearing in these roles in Atkins’s play.
https://charlierose.com/videos/16742
Cool, thanks for your thoughts and the link!
I'll have to try and see that other one to compare.
Yw.
Just remembered something else thatI wanted to mention.
When Vita first begins to pursue Virginia the latter discusses Vita with Leonard and some of the Bloomsburys (iirc, Vanessa and Duncan Grant, but I could be mistaken). Anyhow, they’re indicating their distaste for the aristocracy. Definitely referring to their own intellectual superiority, but I think there was some reaction to perceived class snobbery from aristocrats.
I found that so funny because I remember something from VW’s diaries. She snarked about attending some fair or public event and was shocked to find her own serving maid in attendance. VW was decrying the kind of social progress that made it possible for the lower orders to encroach on such an event. She was complaining that she had to put up with her serving maid having equal access to said event. (Eyeroll!)
:) It's always quite a staircase, isn't it.
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