Orlando (1992)

Young nobleman Orlando is commanded by Queen Elizabeth I to stay forever young. Miraculously, he does just that. The film follows him as he moves through several centuries of British ... See full summary »

Director:

Sally Potter

Writers:

Sally Potter, Virginia Woolf (novel)

Stars:

Tilda Swinton, Billy Zane, Quentin Crisp

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 15 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tilda Swinton	...	Orlando
Billy Zane	...	Shelmerdine
Quentin Crisp	...	Queen Elizabeth I
John Bott	...	Orlando's Father
Elaine Banham	...	Orlando's Mother
Anna Farnworth	...	Clorinda
Sara Mair-Thomas	...	Favilla
Anna Healy	...	Euphrosyne
Dudley Sutton	...	King James I
Simon Russell Beale	...	Earl of Moray
Matthew Sim	...	Lord Francis Vere
Jerome Willis	...	Translator
Viktor Stepanov	...	Russian Ambassador
Charlotte Valandrey	...	Princess Sasha
Mary MacLeod	...	First Older Woman

Storyline

Young nobleman Orlando is commanded by Queen Elizabeth I to stay forever young. Miraculously, he does just that. The film follows him as he moves through several centuries of British history, experiencing a variety of lives and relationships along the way, and even changing sex.

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Plot Keywords:

england | nobility | queen elizabeth i | queen | love | 

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sensuality

Details

Country:

UK Russia Italy France Netherlands

Language:

English French

Release Date:

9 June 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

Orlando - A Mulher Imortal

Filming Locations:

Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$5,289,772 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Adventure Pictures, Lenfilm Studio, Mikado Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

As Orlando progresses throughout the years, during each new incarnation actress Tilda Swinton's eye color changes.

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Quotes

Orlando: Nothing thicker than a knife's blade separates melancholy from happiness.

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Crazy Credits

For Beatrice Quennell "Hunny" 1897 - 1989

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Connections

Referenced in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Despicable Me/The Kids Are All Right (2010)

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Soundtracks

"COMING"
Composed by Sally Potter, Jimmy Somerville, David Motion
Published by Copyright Conrtol/ Virgin Music
Performed by Jimmy Somerville
Courtesy of London Records

User Reviews

Orlando

Sally Potter's Orlando is a clever and ambitious dissection of love and gender that defies culturally sexed expectations in both content and form. The film owes much of its narrative experimentalism to Virginia Woolf, who first conceived the story of immortal, androgynous Orlando as an exploration of societal prejudice and conduct, satirizing naively patriarchal feelings of romantic ownership and the laughably self- important status of masculine art. Potter deserves credit, however, for translating the story into a Brechtian subversion of traditional viewership modes: the film's drag casting, fourth wall disruption, titles and music all remind us to be conscious and critical of how we engage the film. Orlando is anchored by a charming performance from Tilda Swinton, and some stunning costume and set design. It is a smart film that challenges the sexed gaze, and it genuinely earns the sense of hope it ends on. -TK 10/12/10