This biographical film has Glenda Jackson portraying a British poet with emotional problems.This biographical film has Glenda Jackson portraying a British poet with emotional problems.This biographical film has Glenda Jackson portraying a British poet with emotional problems.
- Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
- 8 wins & 4 nominations total
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe film was given a very limited release in the USA in late 1978, but only on the West Coast. Over two years later, it was shown theatrically on the East Coast and proved a big hit with critics, going on to win many awards, including 2 acting awards from the New York Film Critics.
- Quotes
Stevie Smith: Agatha Christie is so deadly serious in English... but in French, she's so delightfully funny! Je m'apelle Hercule Poirot, un detective. Her murders are so polite!
Featured review
Literate, lovely, sad film about the British poet/writer Stevie Smith with splendid performances by Glenda Jackson as Stevie and Mona Washbourne as the "lion aunt." Stagy, yes, but filled with love and wit and great wisdom.
The narrative follows the adult years of the eccentric poet in her suburban London home she shares with her aunt. Her workaday like is a background to her domestic life with flashbacks of school, a failed love, and death ... a major theme in her writing.
But rather than being gloomy, the film points out the joys of a life even if unfulfilled by husband and children. Jackson enacts many of Stevie's poems as a counterpoint to her own life, and she is quite superb.
Mona Washbourne is excellent and endearing as the aging aunt who really doesn't understand the Bohemian life of her gifted niece. Yet they have a wonderful life together. The domestic scenes of the simple joys of conversation and good sherry are wondrous.
Alec McCowen is the lost suitor. Trevor Howard is the narrator who wanders through the story.
A pity this is not available on DVD. A lovely film for the intelligent viewer.
The narrative follows the adult years of the eccentric poet in her suburban London home she shares with her aunt. Her workaday like is a background to her domestic life with flashbacks of school, a failed love, and death ... a major theme in her writing.
But rather than being gloomy, the film points out the joys of a life even if unfulfilled by husband and children. Jackson enacts many of Stevie's poems as a counterpoint to her own life, and she is quite superb.
Mona Washbourne is excellent and endearing as the aging aunt who really doesn't understand the Bohemian life of her gifted niece. Yet they have a wonderful life together. The domestic scenes of the simple joys of conversation and good sherry are wondrous.
Alec McCowen is the lost suitor. Trevor Howard is the narrator who wanders through the story.
A pity this is not available on DVD. A lovely film for the intelligent viewer.
Details
- Runtime1 hour 42 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.78 : 1
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