Movie - Vita and Virginia
Score : 6/10
Year : 2018
Director: Chanya Button
Cinematography: Carlos De CarvalhoMusic: Isobel Waller-Bridge (composer)
Adapted from Eileen Atkins' 1992 eponymous play, this film's screenplay is co-written by her, and director Chanya Button. It is set in the 1920s, and focuses on writers Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf's love affair, starting from Vita's fascination with Virginia's writing and Virginia's initial reluctance before their affair unfolds - in a context of class differences, open (but not always equal) open marriages and a time when homosexuality in England was still illegal - hence the pleas to avoid scandal, both on class issues but also due this illegality.
Vita's a socialite and popular author. Her mother, Lady Sackville, tries to dissuade Vita from pursuing anything with Virginia, in fear of the scandals it may cause.
Following her infatuation, Vita disobeys and, in a rather predatory way, hounds Virginia. Why do I say that ? At first, Virginia is more than reluctant, she seems she's not ready and Vita insists and does everything she can to spend time and exhibits some toxic obsession traits that must be pointed out. Don't worry, the movie does address them.
The movie doesn't discuss their shortcomings (for ex, some of Virginia's ambivalence with anti-Semitic comments here and there, but having also a respect and having married a Jewish man), it's solely about their relationship, with its ups and downs, on the backdrop of their societal class differences, open marriages, and their literary productivity and inspiration - as well as Virginia's ill-health. In a few scenes, there's an animation showing, what we can surmise, hallucinations. In one particular scene at the table, Virginia starts losing it, and runs outside, for another one. At first, I feared an emet trigger, but it wasn't so - so you can watch and not worry, there isn't any.
During the course of the movie, Virginia's books Mrs Dalloway, To the Lighthouse and Orlando are published, the latter of which is a must-read, especially if you're intrigued at this relationship and want something just as LGBT related book as this film is. (of note, though I like VW's writing in general, I do not agree nor condone her shortcomings on some social aspects.)
Dialogues are exquisite and sound real - I recognize these authors' styles, though I've read a lot more Virginia than Vita's, I can hear them.
Earlier, I mentioned that the open marriage aren't always equal. Indeed, Vita's husband, (Sir) Harold Nicholson, has his own affair (s?), but shows more jealousy at Vita, as well as his repeated requests that she stays away from scandal - understandable in view of his diplomatic position. On the other hand, Virginia's husband is a lot more likeable in his approach : he's a feminist (we hear it in a specific dialogue to the doctor, for instance), and doesn't believe in jealousy. He's a caring, devoted and concerned husband. We know that this was true, actually (Virginia had been abused as a child and, because her trauma, hated sex with men, preferring women, but did love her husband).
Vita and Virginia has beautiful, yet uneven cinematography. For instance, there are real excerpts from letters exchanged between the two women, shown on screen in an artistic way : Gemma Arterton (Vita) and Elizabeth Debicki (Virginia) speak words into the camera, in turns, whilst a portion of their letter is displayed in the background, and there's a bit of blur effect under their chins - this is both an interesting artistic aspect, perhaps to showcase the difficult relationship, but also a bit distracting at times, thus uneven in effect.
The electronic soundtrack is beautiful and sometimes eerie, good in itself, but I feel that they should have used period-specific music (more than the one scene that includes any), to better accompany the story, decors/set designs and all the beautiful 1920's costumes.
The acting is very good, but, though Elizabeth Debicki is a good Virginia, their resemblance is lesser than that of Gemma Arterton as Vita. That said, their chemistry is immense and the couple bed-scenes aren't sensationalized, they are of adult content.
I give it 6/10 because, although good and art film, the modern music choice and a tad slow pacing make it a good movie, not transcendant or special.
Starring :
Gemma Arterton* as Vita Sackville-West
Elizabeth Debicki as Virginia Woolf
Isabella Rossellini* as Lady Sackville
Rupert Penry-Jones as Harold Nicolson
Peter Ferdinando as Leonard Woolf
Gethin Anthony as Clive Bell
Emerald Fennell as Vanessa Bell
Adam Gillen as Duncan Grant
Karla Crome as Dorothy Wellesley
Rory Fleck Byrne as Geoffrey Scott
Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as Ralph Partridge
* Gemma Arterton& Isabella Rossellini also joined the production team
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