Carrington (1995)

The platonic relationship between artist Dora Carrington (Dame Emma Thompson) and writer Lytton Strachey (Jonathan Pryce) in the early twentieth century.

Director:

Christopher Hampton

Writers:

Christopher Hampton, Michael Holroyd (book)

Stars:

Emma Thompson, Jonathan Pryce, Steven Waddington

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 7 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Emma Thompson	...	Dora Carrington
Jonathan Pryce	...	Lytton Strachey
Steven Waddington	...	Ralph Partridge
Samuel West	...	Gerald Brenan
Rufus Sewell	...	Mark Gertler
Penelope Wilton	...	Lady Ottoline Morrell
Janet McTeer	...	Vanessa Bell
Peter Blythe	...	Phillip Morrell
Jeremy Northam	...	Beacus Penrose
Alex Kingston	...	Frances Partridge
Sebastian Harcombe	...	Roger Senhouse
Richard Clifford	...	Clive Bell
David Ryall	...	Mayor
Stephen Boxer	...	Military Rep
Annabel Mullion	...	Mary Hutchinson

Storyline

The story of the relationship between painter Dora Carrington (Dame Emma Thompson) and author Lytton Strachey (Jonathan Pryce) in a World War I England of cottages and countryside. Although platonic due to Strachey's homosexuality, the relationship was nevertheless a deep and complicated one. When Carrington did develop a more physical relationship with soldier Ralph Partridge (Steven Waddington), Strachey was able to welcome him as a friend, although Partridge remained somewhat uneasy, not so much with Strachey's sexual orientation as with the fact that he was a conscientious objector.

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Plot Keywords:

writer | gay | rape | f rated | character name as title | 

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Taglines:

She had many lovers but only one love.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Emma Thompson previously played a woman in love with a gay man in Peter's Friends (1992).

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Quotes

Lytton Strachey: Do you really like to be called Carrington?
Dora Carrington: Yes.
Lytton Strachey: Why?
Dora Carrington: My first name is Dora.
Lytton Strachey: Oh, I see.

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Connections

Referenced in Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist: Movies (1998)

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Soundtracks

Adagio from 'String Quintet in C Major', D. 956, op. post. 163
Composed by Franz Schubert

User Reviews

Delicately portrayed amorous eccentricity as only the British can do

If you require the overdone loudness, violence and aggressivity of an American film (Training Day comes to mind), you'll need to take an extra dose of Ritalin to get through this film. (That advice could have been useful to a few of the previous reviewers, in fact.)

For those who don't have to be hit over the head, though, this film is a riveting masterpiece about the varied forms human love can assume--and a reminder that subcultures, like the Bloomsbury Group, have always given social norms a wide berth. British society has long tolerated eccentricity, especially when discreetly indulged, of which the nuanced contours of relationships among the literate in early-20th-century Britain provide an excellent illustration. Combine this refreshing glimpse of consensual mores with outstanding interpretations by Thompson and Pryce, and with fidelity to historical fact, and you've got two delightful hours of first-rate cinema on your hands.

And not an exploding car or a vengeance-driven, gadget-laden military operation against a demonized third-world country anywhere to be found. Amazing. And bravo. 9 out of 10.

Details

Country:

UK France

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 November 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Carrington

Filming Locations:

Whitby, North Yorkshire, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$151,722, 12 November 1995

Gross USA:

$3,242,342

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,242,342

Company Credits

Production Co:

PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Freeway Films, Cinéa

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1