Sylvia (2003)

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

Director:

Christine Jeffs

Writer:

John Brownlow (screenplay)

Stars:

Gwyneth Paltrow, 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 | depression | 

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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:

31 October 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ted and Sylvia

Filming Locations:

Cornwall, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

£7,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$58,940 (USA) (17 October 2003)

Gross:

$1,302,242 (USA) (19 December 2003)

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

Most of the extras in the opening scenes in Cambridge were, like Sylvia Plath herself, students of the University of Cambridge.

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Goofs

In the movie, Aurelia meets Ted Hughes for the first time after he married Sylvia Plath; in reality, she had attended their wedding.

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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

Referenced in Music by Gabriel Yared (2007)

User Reviews

a truly beautiful love story

I saw this movie and was really stunned. I am shocked that it has received such bad reviews because I think this is an amazing film. I understand Plath fans being upset that it does not go into detail with Sylvia's life, but this is a movie about the love of Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes- Not the life of Sylvia Plath. It is a beautifully made movie. Paltrow does a phenomenal job of showing Sylvia's pain. She gives a great image of the torment Plath went through. The love story is both alluring and fascinating. Its so beautiful. I really cant say anything bad about this movie. I absolutely loved it, and it has not received the recognition it deserves.