Sylvia (2003)

Story of the relationship between the poets Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath.

Director:

Christine Jeffs

Writer:

John Brownlow (screenplay)

Stars:

David Birkin, Daniel Craig, Lucy Davenport

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Birkin	...	Morecambe
Alison Bruce	...	Elizabeth
Amira Casar	...	Assia Wevill
Daniel Craig	...	Ted Hughes
Blythe Danner	...	Aurelia Plath
Lucy Davenport	...	Doreen
Julian Firth	...	James Michie
Jeremy Fowlds	...	Mr. Robinson
Michael Gambon	...	Professor Thomas
Sarah Guyler	...	Ted's Cambridge Girlfriend
Jared Harris	...	Al Alvarez
Andrew Havill	...	David Wevill
Theresa Healey	...	3rd Woman at Ted Hughes' Lecture
Liddy Holloway	...	Martha Bergstrom
Robyn Malcolm	...	1st Woman at Ted Hughes' Lecture

Storyline

In 1956, aspiring American poet Sylvia Plath meets fellow poet Edward Ted Hughes at Cambridge, where she is studying. Enthralled with the genius of his writing, Sylvia falls in love with him even before meeting him, and he quickly falls in love with her. They eventually marry. Sylvia quickly learns that others are also enthralled with her husband, for a combination of his good looks, charisma, fame and success. Sylvia lives in her husband's professional shadow as she tries to eke out her own writing career, which doesn't come as naturally to her as it does to Ted. She also suspects him of chronic infidelity. Both issues affect Sylvia's already fragile emotional state, she who once tried to commit suicide earlier in her life. Through her pain and her anger, she does gain minor success as a writer, with a completed semi-autobiographical novel and a few well received collection of poems. Following, she tries to regain some happiness in her life with Ted, but has an alternate plan if that...

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Plot Keywords:

poet | love | writing | infidelity | insecurity | 

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Taglines:

Life was too small to contain her...

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality/nudity and language

Details

Official Sites:

Focus Features

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 January 2004 (UK)

Also Known As:

Ted and Sylvia

Filming Locations:

Cornwall, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

£7,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$12,583 (Hong Kong) (25 June 2004)

Gross:

$12,583 (Hong Kong) (25 June 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Films, British Film Council, Capitol Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During some of the filming, Gwyneth Paltrow stayed in Q staircase of Tree Court, Gonville & Caius College as this was minutes away from the mocked-up old street at the back of Caius.

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Goofs

The film begins with the time that Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes met, and the trees are shown in autumn colors with falling leaves. However, Sylvia and Ted met in late winter, February of 1956, when the trees would have been bare.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Sylvia: Sometimes I dream the tree, and the tree is my life. One branch is the man I shall marry, and the leaves my children. Another branch is my future as a writer, and each leaf is a poem. Another branch is a good academic career. But as I sit there trying to choose, the leaves bring to turn brown and blow away, until the tree is absolutely bare.

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Connections

Featured in Hollywood's Top Ten: Gwyneth Paltrow Movies (2011)

User Reviews

Life imitating art... or just art?

So intense ... Ms. Paltrow does not let your eye leave her from the moment she enters the frame... moment by moment she projects her feelings thoughts... almost painful to watch at times... you almost feel like you are watching Paltrow herself unravel on screen (boat on the ocean. I love Plath and I love Paltrow as Plath... she is heartbreaking and haunting just like the poetry the real Sylvia wrote. She unlike most actresses becomes a character and she became Sylvia Plath.