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IMDbPro

Vita & Virginia

  • 20182018
  • UnratedUnrated
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
3.9K
YOUR RATING
Gemma Arterton and Elizabeth Debicki in Vita & Virginia (2018)
Watch ’Trailer [OV]’
Play trailer2:05
3 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • Romance
The fascinating true story of the love affair between socialite and popular author Vita Sackville-West and literary icon Virginia Woolf.The fascinating true story of the love affair between socialite and popular author Vita Sackville-West and literary icon Virginia Woolf.The fascinating true story of the love affair between socialite and popular author Vita Sackville-West and literary icon Virginia Woolf.
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
3.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Chanya Button
  • Writers
    • Eileen Atkins
    • Virginia Woolf(letters)
    • Vita Sackville-West(letters)
  • Stars
    • Gemma Arterton
    • Elizabeth Debicki
    • Isabella Rossellini
Top credits
  • Director
    • Chanya Button
  • Writers
    • Eileen Atkins
    • Virginia Woolf(letters)
    • Vita Sackville-West(letters)
  • Stars
    • Gemma Arterton
    • Elizabeth Debicki
    • Isabella Rossellini
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 48User reviews
    • 50Critic reviews
    • 43Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations

    Videos3

    Trailer [OV]
    Trailer 2:05
    Trailer [OV]
    Vita & Virginia
    Trailer 2:05
    Vita & Virginia
    Official Trailer - VITA & VIRGINIA
    Trailer 2:02
    Official Trailer - VITA & VIRGINIA

    Photos138

    Gemma Arterton and Elizabeth Debicki in Vita & Virginia (2018)
    Gemma Arterton and Elizabeth Debicki in Vita & Virginia (2018)
    Gemma Arterton and Elizabeth Debicki in Vita & Virginia (2018)
    Rupert Penry-Jones and Gemma Arterton in Vita & Virginia (2018)
    Elizabeth Debicki in Vita & Virginia (2018)
    Elizabeth Debicki in Vita & Virginia (2018)
    Vita & Virginia (2018)
    Peter Ferdinando in Vita & Virginia (2018)
    Elizabeth Debicki in Vita & Virginia (2018)
    Vita & Virginia (2018)
    Peter Ferdinando in Vita & Virginia (2018)
    Vita & Virginia (2018)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Gemma Arterton
    Gemma Arterton
    • Vita Sackville-Westas Vita Sackville-West
    Elizabeth Debicki
    Elizabeth Debicki
    • Virginia Woolfas Virginia Woolf
    Isabella Rossellini
    Isabella Rossellini
    • Lady Sackvilleas Lady Sackville
    Rupert Penry-Jones
    Rupert Penry-Jones
    • Harold Nicolsonas Harold Nicolson
    Peter Ferdinando
    Peter Ferdinando
    • Leonard Woolfas Leonard Woolf
    Emerald Fennell
    Emerald Fennell
    • Vanessa Bellas Vanessa Bell
    Gethin Anthony
    Gethin Anthony
    • Clive Bellas Clive Bell
    Rory Fleck Byrne
    Rory Fleck Byrne
    • Geoffrey Scottas Geoffrey Scott
    Karla Crome
    Karla Crome
    • Dorothy Wellesleyas Dorothy Wellesley
    Adam Gillen
    Adam Gillen
    • Duncan Grantas Duncan Grant
    Brenock O'Connor
    Brenock O'Connor
    • Julian Bellas Julian Bell
    Amelie Metcalfe
    • Angelica Bellas Angelica Bell
    Darren Dixon
    • Ben Sackville-Westas Ben Sackville-West
    Sam Hardy
    Sam Hardy
    • Nigel Sackville-Westas Nigel Sackville-West
    Jane McGrath
    • Nellyas Nelly
    Nathan Stewart-Jarrett
    Nathan Stewart-Jarrett
    • Ralph Partridgeas Ralph Partridge
    Thalia Heffernan
    • Mary Campbellas Mary Campbell
    Bryan Murray
    • Doctoras Doctor
    • Director
      • Chanya Button
    • Writers
      • Eileen Atkins
      • Virginia Woolf(letters)
      • Vita Sackville-West(letters)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Both this film and the play on which it is based were derived from letters between Vita Sackville-West and acclaimed author Virginia Woolf.
    • Goofs
      Driving in a convertible with the top down, neither woman has windblown hair.
    • Quotes

      Harold Nicolson: I hear nothing but reports of her madness.

      Vita Sackville-West: Madness, what a convenient way to explain away her genius.

    User reviews48

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    muse and muss
    Greetings again from the darkness. The historical landscape of relationships is littered with the remains of artist couples who began with a cosmic connection and ended with a sonic boom. Add in the socially toxic matter of same-sex attraction from a century ago, and you have a starting point for the romance-friendship-inspiration between writers Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf. Director Chanya Button co-wrote the script with Eileen Atkins, and it's adapted from Ms. Atkins play and the personal letters of Virginia and Vita ... correspondence that covered many years and hundreds of letters.

    Gemma Arterton (TAMARA DREWE, 2010 and QUANTUM OF SOLACE, 2008) stars as writer Vita Sackville-West, a successful poet, novelist, and columnist. Vita was also known for her free spirited ways, and sometimes scandalous behavior. Virginia Woolf is played by Elizabeth Debicki ("The Night Manager", THE GREAT GATSBY), and she does really nice work capturing the troubled genius, and the glimmers of hope during her time with Vita. The two women were so very different in their approach to life and writing, although each faced their own challenges.

    We see their first meeting, and the immediate enchantment that occurs as their eyes meet across the room. However, what makes their relationship interesting is the long and winding path to consummation. The interesting parts come as Vita toys with the fragile Virginia, though it's clear their connection is quite strong. Though the connection was strong, the relationship was quite complex. Vita was a fan of Virginia's talent. Virginia was an admirer of Vita's strength and confidence. They seemed to push each other - sometimes for the better, other times for the worse.

    The film opens as Ms. Woolf's book "Jacob's Room" is being typeset and printed. It's quite an artistic way to show the mechanics of the process, and credit goes to Cinematographer Carlos De Carvalho for a segment that would typically be little more than filler. We learn about Vita's secretly "open" marriage to diplomat Harold Nicholson (Rupert Penry-Jones) and her constant battle with her mother Lady Sackville (Isabella Rossellini) over scandals and the family reputation. Virginia's husband Leonard (Peter Ferdinando) runs their printing business, and is seen as vital to his wife's emotional stability, despite the void in other marital aspects. Virginia's artist sister Vanessa Bell (Emerald Fennell) is quite an interesting character whose backstory (also a part of the Bloomsbury Group) is teased enough that she might deserve her own film.

    The film features a couple of memorable lines of dialogue, both spoken by Vita. During a BBC radio program she boldly claims "Independence has no sex", and in an early discussion with Virginia states "Popularity is no sign of genius". Vita's brazen step traveling as a man with her previous lover Violet Keppel is mentioned, but mostly this is focused on the class differences and the 'snatched moments' for Vita and Virginia. Vita's exotic spirit and Virginia's struggle with mental health are made clear (even using special effects for the latter). "Visions" of conversations bring the words on the letter pages to life, though it does seem that the filmmakers played things a bit too safe in order to capture a mainstream audience. The music of Isobel Waller-Bridge (Phoebe's sister) brings a contemporary feel but it's at times in contrast to the high gloss presentation. For the women who wrote and inspired the amazing novel "Orlando", and led one of the more tumultuous historical lesbian affairs, it could be argued that they deserved a bit more risk taking on the big screen. Still, "X" marks the spot for Virginia's writing room, and we do understand why discretion might be the right call.
    helpful•23
    11
    • ferguson-6
    • Aug 22, 2019

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 23, 2019 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Ireland
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Віта і Вірджинія
    • Filming locations
      • Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
    • Production companies
      • Mirror Productions
      • Blinder Films
      • Bórd Scannán na hÉireann
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $42,741
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,408
      • Aug 25, 2019
    • Gross worldwide
      • $800,675
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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