– Tina Gharavi’s adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s second novel follows Haley Bennett as Katharine Hilbery as she challenges societal expectations in London in 1910
Haley Bennett in Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day
Following its world premiere at SXSW London, Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day, directed by Tina Gharavi, is heading to UK cinemas on 19 June, distributed by Vue Lumière. On 9 July, it will also hit German screens thanks to Wild Bunch.
The novel – Woolf’s second and one of her least successful works – is set in London in 1910 and has been adapted for the screen by Justine Waddell. Katharine Hilbery (Haley Bennett), a talented young woman determined to pursue her passion for astronomy, struggles to escape the future that society has prescribed for her and is trying to get into Cambridge. Her father, Mr Hilbery (Timothy Spall), opposes her ambitions and pressures her into getting engaged to family friend William (played by Jack Whitehall). Surrounding her are the lively and charming suffragette Mary Datchet (Lily Allen) and working-class editor Ralph Denham (Austrian actor Elyas M’Barek), who is helping Katharine’s mother, Mrs Hilbery (Jennifer Saunders), write a biography of her illustrious father.
Gharavi’s film plays with the familiar conventions of the English period drama, peppering them with modern touches. That’s why, somehow, Lily Allen’s vibrant red hair never feels too out of place. Also, among an otherwise strong cast who appear well directed by the helmer, the famous singer feels a bit like an oddball, a fish out of water. Her character is undoubtedly cool, and for some, the dissonance will work. In this regard, the film’s world is both believable and fairy tale-like at the same time. This will not be everyone’s cup of tea, and some of the movie’s most disruptive choices (including a modern-sounding soundtrack) may not sit well with the most conservative of viewers looking for a standard literary or historical adaptation.
One could say that fortune favours the bold, and in the case of Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day, that is somewhat true. Nonetheless, there is a contradiction at the heart of the film: on the one hand, it strives to be modern and comedic while also dealing with important themes; on the other, its sometimes overly wordy writing weighs it down and tends to be overexplanatory. Unfortunately, a few scenes also come across as excessively cheesy. One in particular is the sequence in which Katharine screams in rage, and the editing makes it look as though the universe and the stars are pouring out of her. While it’s a great idea, the execution feels clunky.
David Hindle’s production design is one of the most delightful elements of this work. The setting is believable and well rounded, and the audience can immediately recognise the historical context as being familiar. Another strong aspect is Bennett’s performance: controlled and never over the top, she brings a girl-next-door quality while also conveying the protagonist’s strength and stubbornness. Other striking elements are the feminist themes and the fight for women’s rights: some of these scenes will even give you goosebumps.
This adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s novel is overall an easy watch for most audiences, although it will probably not be a major crowd-pleaser. It will most likely find its place on streaming and television, as its accessible tone certainly suits home viewing.
Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day is a UK-German co-production staged by Asterisk Films, Piccadilly Pictures, Stellican, Kioski and GLISK. Its international sales are handled by WestEnd Films.
