Vita & Virginia

{{Infobox film

| name = Vita & Virginia

| image = Vita and Virginia poster.jpg

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Chanya Button

| producer = {{Plainlist|

Evangelo Kioussis
Katie Holly
Shashank Shambharkar

}}

| writer = {{Plainlist|

Eileen Atkins
Chanya Button

}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| based_on = {{based on|Vita & Virginia|Eileen Atkins}}

| music = Isobel Waller-Bridge

| cinematography = Carlos De Carvalho

| editing = Mark Trend

| production_companies = {{Plainlist|

Bl!nder Films
Mirror Productions
Protagonist Pictures
Mehra Entertainment
LipSync Productions
Rather Good Films Ltd
Screen Ireland

}}

| distributor = Thunderbird Releasing

| released = {{Film date|2018|9|11|TIFF|df=yes|2019|7|5|United Kingdom and Ireland}}

| runtime = 110 minutes

| country = {{Plainlist|

United Kingdom
Ireland

}}

| language = English

| budget =

| gross = $789,095{{cite web |title=Vita and Virginia (2019)|url=https://m.the-numbers.com/movie/Vita-and-Virginia-(UK)-(2019)#tab=summary|website=The Numbers|publisher=Nash Information Services|date=2019|access-date=13 September 2019}}

}}

Vita & Virginia is a 2018 biographical romantic drama film directed by Chanya Button. The screenplay, written by Button and Eileen Atkins, is adapted from the 1992 play Vita & Virginia by Atkins.{{cite book |last1=Atkins |first1=Eileen |title=Vita & Virginia |date=1995 |publisher=Samuel French, Inc. |isbn=0-573-13012-4 |url=http://shop.samuelfrench.com/content/samples/101906/vitavirginia-9780573130120_24626_text_5-5x8-5.pdf}} The film stars Gemma Arterton, Elizabeth Debicki, and Isabella Rossellini. Set in the 1920s, Vita & Virginia tells the story of the love affair between Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf.

The film had its world premiere as a Special Presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival on 11 September 2018.{{cite web|first=Jeremy|last=Kay|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/toronto-unveils-contemporary-world-cinema-more-galas-and-special-presentations-/5131634.article|title=Toronto unveils Contemporary World Cinema, more Galas and Special Presentations|website=Screen Daily|date=August 14, 2018|access-date=August 14, 2018}} It was released in the United Kingdom on 5 July 2019, and in the United States on 23 August 2019.

Plot

Set in the 1920s, the writers Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf move in different London circles. When they meet, Vita decides Virginia will be her next conquest. They have an affair against the background of each of their open marriages.[http://protagonistpictures.com/film/vita-virginia/ Vita & Virginia – Synopsis]. (2019). Protagonist Pictures.

Cast

{{Cast listing|

Gemma Arterton as Vita Sackville-West
Elizabeth Debicki as Virginia Woolf
Isabella Rossellini as Lady Sackville
Rupert Penry-Jones as Harold Nicolson
Peter Ferdinando as Leonard Woolf
Gethin Anthony as Clive Bell
Emerald Fennell as Vanessa Bell
Adam Gillen as Duncan Grant
Karla Crome as Dorothy Wellesley
Rory Fleck Byrne as Geoffrey Scott
Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as Ralph Partridge

}}

Production

On 30 June 2016, Deadline Hollywood reported that British director Chanya Button{{efn|Sacha Polak had come on board as director in 2014 but withdrew from the project soon after.}} was to direct Vita and Virginia from a script by Eileen Atkins,{{cite web|last1=D'Alessandro|first1=Anthony|title=Story About Virginia Woolf & Vita Sackville-West Love Affair Headed To The Big Screen|url=https://deadline.com/2016/06/vita-and-virginia-virginia-woolf-vita-sackville-west-movie-chanya-button-1201781780/|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=30 June 2016|access-date=19 September 2018}} with Evangelo Kioussis of Mirror Productions and Katie Holly of Bl!nder Films as producers.{{cite web|last1=Knox|first1=Kirsty Blake|title=Woolf's love story gets Irish producer's touch|url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/movie-news/woolfs-love-story-gets-irish-producers-touch-35464593.html |website=Irish Independent|date=2 February 2017|access-date=19 September 2018}}{{cite web|last1=McNeice|first1=Katie|title=Blinder Films to Co-Produce 'Vita & Virginia' starring Eva Green & Gemma Arterton|url=http://www.iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4290263&tpl=archnews&force=1|website=Irish Film & Television Network|date=13 February 2017|access-date=19 September 2018}}{{cite web|title=Final Cast Announced for Irish/UK Creative Co-Production, Vita and Virginia|url=https://www.screenireland.ie/news/final-cast-announced-for-irish-uk-creative-co-production-vita-and-virginia|website=Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland|date=25 August 2017|access-date=19 September 2018}}{{excessive citations inline|date=October 2020}} The screenplay is based on Atkins' stage play Vita & Virginia. Gemma Arterton, who also became an executive producer of the film, had received the first draft from Atkins years before and showed it to Button; and Button subsequently co-wrote the final script with Atkins.

{{Multiple image

| direction = horizontal

| image1 = Elizabeth Debicki in 2012.jpg

| caption1 = Elizabeth Debicki in 2012

| image2 = George Charles Beresford - Virginia Woolf in 1902 - Restoration.jpg

| caption2 = Virginia Woolf in 1902

| total_width = 310

| align = left

}}

On 8 February 2017, it was announced that Eva Green and Gemma Arterton had been cast in the film.{{cite news|author=Staff|title=Eva Green, Gemma Arterton to Star in Virginia Woolf Movie 'Vita & Virginia'|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/global/eva-green-gemma-arterton-virginia-woolf-vita-virginia-1201981335/|work=Variety|date=8 February 2017|access-date=14 August 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Pulver|first1=Andrew|title=Gemma Arterton and Eva Green cast in Virginia Woolf lesbian romance|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/feb/08/gemma-arterton-eva-green-cast-in-virginia-woolf-lesbian-romance?CMP=twt_a-film_b-gdnfilm|work=The Guardian|date=8 February 2017|access-date=10 February 2017}}{{efn|Romola Garai was originally cast in the role of Virginia Woolf.}} In May 2017, it was reported that Green had left the project due to scheduling conflicts. Green was replaced by Andrea Riseborough.{{cite web|author=The Playlist [@ThePlaylist]|title=Andrea Riseborough Replaces Eva Green In 'Vita & Virginia' With Gemma|url=https://twitter.com/theplaylist/status/865586120930754560|website=Twitter|date=19 May 2017|access-date=19 September 2018}} Elizabeth Debicki was eventually cast in the role of Woolf in August 2017, with Isabella Rossellini also joining the production.{{cite web|last1=Grater|first1=Tom|title=Elizabeth Debicki replaces Eva Green in lesbian romance 'Vita & Virginia'|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/elizabeth-debicki-replaces-eva-green-in-vita-and-virginia/5121606.article|website=Screen Daily|date=23 August 2017|access-date=19 September 2018}}{{cite web|last1=Roxborough|first1=Scott|title=Elizabeth Debicki to Play Virginia Woolf in 'Vita & Virginia'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/guardians-galaxy-actress-elizabeth-debicki-play-virginia-woolf-vita-virginia-1031939|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=23 August 2017|access-date=19 September 2018}}{{cite web|last1=Mitchell|first1=Robert|title=Elizabeth Debicki, Isabella Rossellini Join Virginia Woolf Biopic 'Vita & Virginia'|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/elizabeth-debicki-isabella-rossellini-join-virginia-woolf-biopic-vita-virginia-1202536729/|work=Variety|date=23 August 2017|access-date=19 September 2018}}

Financing was procured from the Irish Film Board, Piccadilly Pictures, Sampsonic Media, and Lipsync Productions; with Protagonist Pictures handling international sales.{{cite web|last1=McCarthy|first1=Esther|title='Vita & Virginia' with Gemma Arterton, Elizabeth Debicki: exclusive new image and set report|url=https://www.screendaily.com/features/vita-and-virginia-with-gemma-arterton-elizabeth-debicki-exclusive-new-image-and-set-report/5126779.article|website=Screen Daily|date=18 February 2018|access-date=19 September 2018}} Principal photography began in September 2017 in Dublin, Ireland.{{cite news|last1=Evry|first1=Max|title=First Look at Debicki & Arterton in Vita & Virginia|url=http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/899879-first-look-at-elizabeth-debicki-gemma-arterton-in-vita-virginia|website=ComingSoon.net|date=1 November 2017|access-date=2 November 2017}}

In August 2017, Thunderbird Releasing acquired the distribution rights for the United Kingdom.{{cite web|title=Vita & Virginia|url=http://www.thunderbirdreleasing.com/vita-virginia/|website=Thunderbird Releasing|date=2017|access-date=19 September 2018}} Distribution rights for Germany were acquired by NFP, Australia and New Zealand by Transmission Films, Czech Republic and Slovakia by CinemArt, Greece by Seven Films, Hong Kong by EDKO, Israel by Forum Film, Poland by M2 Films, Portugal by Lusumundo, and in the former Yugoslavia by MCF.

The first film still was released by Protagonist Pictures on 1 November 2017.{{cite web|last1=Horst|first1=Carole|title=AFM First Look: Elizabeth Debicki, Gemma Arterton in 'Vita & Virginia'|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/afm-first-look-elizabeth-debicki-gemma-arterton-in-vita-virginia-1202599122/|work=Variety|date=1 November 2017|access-date=19 September 2018}}{{cite web|last1=Murphy|first1=Niall|title=#IrishFilm: First image from Chanya Button's Vita & Virginia, produced by Blinder Films|url=https://scannain.com/irish/vita-and-virginia-image/|website=Scannain|date=1 November 2017|access-date=19 September 2018}}

Release

The world premiere was held at the Toronto International Film Festival on 11 September 2018.{{cite web|title=Vita & Virginia|url=https://www.tiff.net/tiff/vita-virginia/|website=Toronto International Film Festival|date=2018|access-date=19 September 2018}}{{cite web|last1=White|first1=Peter|title='Vita & Virginia': Gemma Arterton and Rupert Penry-Jones Duel In First Clip Of Chanya Button's Period Drama|url=https://deadline.com/2018/09/vita-virginia-first-clip-1202457454/|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=September 7, 2018|access-date=6 August 2019}}{{cite web|last1=Kiang|first1=Jessica|title=Toronto Film Review: 'Vita & Virginia' |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/vita-and-virginia-review-1202936290/|work=Variety|date=18 September 2018|access-date=19 September 2018}} It was selected as the opening night film of the 2019 Frameline Film Festival in San Francisco and the 2019 BFI Flare in London.{{cite web|last1=Dry|first1=Jude|title=Frameline 2019: Judy Garland, Virginia Woolf Movies Head Up San Francisco LGBTQ Film Festival|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/04/frameline-2019-lineup-lgbt-gay-lesbian-movies-film-festival-1202129867/|website=IndieWire|date=30 April 2019|access-date=2 May 2019}}{{Cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Robert |date=2019-02-08 |title='Vita & Virginia' to Open BFI Flare LGBTQ Festival |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/vita-virginia-open-bfi-flare-lgbtq-festival-1203132345/ |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

Vita and Virginia was released theatrically in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 5 July 2019 by Thunderbird Releasing.{{cite web|first=Ella|last=Alexander|url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/culture/culture-news/a27163295/trailer-for-vita-and-virginia/|title=Watch: the trailer for Vita & Virginia is here|website=Harpers Bazaar|date=16 April 2019|access-date=17 April 2019}}{{cite web|title=Vita and Virginia|url=https://www.launchingfilms.com/release-schedule?filmSearch=vita+and+virginia|website=Launching Films|publisher=Film Distributors' Association|date=2019|access-date=10 May 2019}} It was released in the United States on 23 August 2019 by IFC Films.{{cite web|title=Vita & Virginia|url=http://www.ifcfilms.com/films/vita-virginia|website=IFC Films|date=2019|access-date=10 May 2019}}

=Home media=

The film was released on video on demand (VOD) in the US on 30 August 2019.

Reception

= Critical reception =

Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gives the film {{a or an|{{RT data|score}}}} approval rating based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The website's critics consensus reads: "Vita & Virginia takes a well-acted and initially intriguing look at the relationship between its real-life protagonists, but is undone by unsatisfying storytelling."{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/vita_and_virginia|title=Vita & Virginia (2018)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|date=23 August 2019 |publisher=Fandango|access-date={{RT data|access date|df=dmy}}}} According to Metacritic, which sampled the opinions of 18 critics and calculated a score of 43 out of 100, the film received "mixed or average reviews".{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/vita-virginia|title=Vita & Virginia Reviews|website=Metacritic|publisher=Red Ventures|access-date=4 January 2021}}

= Accolades =

Elizabeth Debicki's portrayal of Virginia Woolf was recognised with a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the 22nd British Independent Film Awards.{{Cite web |last=Parfitt |first=Orlando |date=2019-12-02 |title='For Sama' wins top prize at 2019 BIFAs |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/for-sama-wins-top-prize-at-2019-bifas/5145255.article |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=Screen International |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2019-10-30 |title=Vita & Virginia · BIFA · British Independent Film Awards |url=https://www.bifa.film/film/vita-virginia/ |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=BIFA · British Independent Film Awards |language=en-GB}} The film was also nominated for Best Makeup & Hair at the 16th Irish Film & Television Awards.{{Cite web |title=Irish Film & Television Academy {{!}} Irish Film & Television Awards |url=https://ifta.ie/awards/nominees_2020/makeuphair.html |access-date=2023-01-28 |website=ifta.ie}}

Notes

References

External links

{{IMDb title|5859882}}
[http://film.britishcouncil.org/vita-and-virginia Vita and Virginia] at British Council Film
{{Rotten Tomatoes|vita_and_virginia}}

Category:2018 films

Category:2018 LGBTQ-related films

Category:2018 biographical drama films

Category:2010s British films

Category:2010s English-language films

Category:2010s historical drama films

Category:2010s historical romance films

Category:2018 romantic drama films

Category:Biographical films about LGBTQ people

Category:Biographical films about poets

Category:British biographical drama films

Category:British films based on plays