VITA & VIRGINIA

UK, 2018, 110 minutes, Colour.

Gemma Arteton, Elizabeth Debicki, Isabella Rossellini, Rupert Penry-Jones, Peter Ferdinando, Emerald Fennell, Gethin Anthony, Adam Gillen.

Directed by Chanya Button.

The impact of the film will depend on audience interest in the lives and careers of Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf and, especially interest/curiosity in their relationship.

The screenplay for this film has been written by Eileen Atkins, a long-time expert on Virginia Woolf, writing the screenplay for the 1998 film version of Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway. Much of the dialogue incorporates the mannered speaking in written style of Virginia Woolf, literate, philosophical, appealing to a more specialised audience.

At the centre of the film is Gemma are to turn as Vita Sackville-West, successful author in the 1920s, notorious for having run off with a woman, her mother bring her back (a cameo by Isabella Rossellini looking and sounding very much like her mother, Ingrid Bergman). Peter is married to the British diplomat, Harold Nicholson (Rupert Penry-Jones). But she is fascinated with the reputation of Virginia Woolf and her husband landed and the Bloomsbury group, labelled the Socialist, significant for British literature at the time. She invites herself to a party and meets Virginia, striking up an association which leads to friendship.

Virginia Woolf is played by Elizabeth to be King, tall and elegant, sometimes uncertain, committed to her writing, supported by her husband, prone to mental instability. The film traces the developments in the friendship, the two women and their time together, sharing ideas, Virginia Woolf opening herself to further experiences, Vita Sackville-West rather manipulative.

The film recreates the costumes and decor, and cars, of the period, the groups meeting, discussions, idiosyncrasies, painting arts and exhibitions, publications of novels, Virginia tentative, having some kind of breakdown after the publication of each novel.

There is a set of self-centredness and fickleness about Vita Sackville-West, even in her pursuit of Virginia Woolf and her sexual control over her. However, Virginia has the idea to create the novel Orlando, the male/female central character, modelling it on Vita and getting Vita to pose for a range of photos to illustrate the novel – which is a popular success.

An idiosyncratic film with main appeal to audiences interested in the Bloomsbury group and Virginia Woolf.

1. Audience interest in Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf? Knowledge of them, their literature, their lives, the relationship? Virginia Woolf’s writing of Orlando?
2. Britain in the 1920s and 30s, social class, educated backgrounds, literature, literary groups, social groups? The place of Virginia and Leonard Woolf? Homes, social gatherings? Holiday homes and grounds? Diplomatic posts in Iran and the Middle East? Atmosphere? Musical score?
3. The focus on Vita Sackville-West? Her literary experience, a social background, the relationship with her mother and tensions, money and support, her affair and running away, her mother intervening? Her marriage to Harold Nicholson? Comments on marriage, the BBC broadcast with him, the chapel and her talking about marriage and contracts? An open marriage? At home, their two children, the grandmother’s intervention about them? Harold as diplomat, personality, abroad, relationships, yet dependent on Vita? Her love for him, dependence, independence? Her role as wife and mother?
4. Vita and her interest in Virginia Woolf? Her mother’s disapproval? Going to the party, the friends and associates, meeting Virginia? The beginning of a friendship? Love, seduction, betrayals?
5. Virginia, her screen presence, mannerisms, her relationship with her husband, her writing and reputation, Vita more popular? The room for her writing, the X on the door? Her relationship with Leonard, the reputations, socialists? Virginia and her emotions, mental health? Her way of speaking, literary? The tentative meetings with Vita, liking her, listening to her, sharing? Vita and the continued presence, comments, frank talk, challenging Virginia?
6. Virginia Woolf, emotional, marriage, no children, restrained? The encounters with Vita, kiss, reactions, caution, her breakdowns, going with Vita, the sexual encounters and the effect on her?
7. Vanessa Bell, Duncan and his flamboyant style, artists, friendship with Virginia, concern about her, her health, emotional relationships with Vita?
8. Vita, the discussions about going to take a run, her presence, society, the return to England? The return to Virginia?
9. Vita, self-centred, the depth of her love for Virginia? The encounter with Mary, bring her to the social? The book dedicated to her? Virginia and the sense of betrayal?
10. The idea for Orlando, male/female, as based on Vita? The exhilaration of the writing? The photo sessions and illustrations of Orlando with Vita? The publication, Leonard’s continual support for Mrs Dalloway, To the Lighthouse, Orlando?
11. Lady Sackville going to rebuke Virginia about Orlando? Vita liking it? The popularity of the book and sales?
12. The postscript, the end of the affair, the friendship continuing?
13. Insight into the literary types of the 1920s and 30s, the Bloomsbury group, Vita Sackville-West and her literature? Virginia Woolf and a contribution to English literature?