Dear Friends of Wahnfried – WOMAN IN LOVE

On Friday 9^th at 4pm, the day Glenda Jackson was born in 1936, Ken Russell’s WOMAN IN LOVE (2h10mins) for which she won an Oscar.

Based on D. H. Lawrence’s 1920 novel Women in Love, the film stars Alan Bates, Oliver Reed, Glenda Jackson and Jennie Linden.

The battle of the sexes and relationships among the elite of Britain’s industrial Midlands in the 1920s. Gerald Crich and Rupert Berkin are best friends who fall in love with a pair of sisters Gudrun, a sculptress and Ursula Brangwen, a schoolteacher. Rupert marries Ursula, Gerald begins a love affair with Gudrun, and the foursome embarks upon a Swiss honeymoon. But the relationships take markedly different directions, as Russell explores the nature of commitment and love. Rupert and Ursula learn to give themselves to each other. The more withdrawn Gerald cannot, finally, connect with the demanding and challenging Gudrun.

“You’ll love Women in Love!

One of the best literary adaptations ever to grace the screen this wonderful movie does justice to Lawrence’s novel but more importantly to his vision. The cast is magical bringing to life Lawrence’s characters at perfect pitch. Alan Bates IS D. H. Lawrence/ Rupert Birkin and Oliver Reed, Jennie Linden and Glenda Jackson, who won an Oscar for her role, are superb. The script is excellent and draws on Lawrence’s writings in addition to titled novel. For instance the scene where they are having lunch in the garden and Rupert (Bates) expounds on the fig fruit is actually taken from a poem by Lawrence called The Fig. It is little touches like this that really show the research and respect that went in to the adaptation. I don’t know of a braver writer of relationships then Lawrence and this film is unflinching in its portrayal of every kind.

This is a very special film that has not lost its beauty and appeal now even though it was made over 56 years ago. Extraordinarily striking and highly sensual, it is a must see for anyone truly interested in film.” IMDb reviewer