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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Certificate:

6

Did You Know?

Trivia

Christopher Hampton finally got to direct the script he'd been sitting on since 1976, but only because original helmer Mike Newell opted to direct Donnie Brasco (1997) instead.

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Quotes

Lytton Strachey: I must say, I find these new young people wonderfully refreshing, they have no morals and they never speak. It's an enchanting combination.

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Heaven's Prisoners/Welcome to the Dollhouse/Flipper/Of Love and Shadows/The Horseman on the Roof (1996)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Pleas give this movie a chance.

If one approaches this movie from the position of a homophobe or from one who has intolerance of different ways that people choose to conduct their emotional lives, then it will not appeal.

The film has faults - it is sometimes too episodic and the motivations of some characters are unclear. However, it is a different look at the love between a man and a woman - a love that was denied sexual expression.

Rather than objecting to the "promiscuity" of the main characters, I was touched by the emotional honesty that existed between them - whether they were having sex or not.

The artistic era in England, after the First World War, was a fascinating time. We might have something to learn about emotional honesty from those in this story.

Dora Carrington was a very interesting woman and and Emma Thompson portrayed her unending love for the gay Strachey in the best work I have seen from her.

So, do give this film a chance, and try to approach it with that elusive (for some) open mind.

Details

Country:

UK France

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 August 1995 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

A festőnő szerelmei

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 Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1