Sally Potter's dazzling adaptation of Virginia Woolf's classic novel is the tale of the apparently immortal Orlando, who begins an epic quest for love and freedom in the court of Elizabeth I as a man, and completes the search 400 years later as a woman. This journey takes Orlando across the frozen river Thames in pursuit of a .. Read more
| Starring | Tilda Swinton, Billy Zane, Lothaire Bluteau, John Wood |
|---|---|
| Director | Sally Potter |
| Genres | Drama |
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Sally Potter's dazzling adaptation of Virginia Woolf's classic novel is the tale of the apparently immortal Orlando, who begins an epic quest for love and freedom in the court of Elizabeth I as a man, and completes the search 400 years later as a woman. This journey takes Orlando across the frozen river Thames in pursuit of a Russian princess, into Central Asia (where he changes sex), through the experience of romantic love - and loss - in the Victorian age and then motherhood (and war) in the twentieth century - before finally arriving in the present moment. Tilda Swinton leads an outstanding international cast in this enchanting, witty, visually beguiling and brilliantly original story of self-discovery, romance and adventure.
| Starring | Tilda Swinton, Billy Zane, Lothaire Bluteau, John Wood, Charlotte Valandrey, Heathcote Williams, Quentin Crisp |
|---|---|
| Director | Sally Potter |
| Studio | ARTIFICIAL EYE |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 29 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | English |
| Released | DVD: unknown Production year: 1992 |
| Format | DVD |
Or you can rent each disc individually:
Director Sally Potter achieves the near-impossible task of bringing Virginia Woolf's complex tale to the screen in a series of burnished and glittering images that dazzle the eye. The film tells the story of young nobleman Orlando — a member of Queen Elizabeth's court presented with his parents' estate provided he fathers heirs and never grows old — who lives for 400 years and mysteriously changes into a woman during the 18th century. As the hero/heroine, Tilda Swinton moves passively through the romantic, dramatic and intriguing events that befall Orlando, and there's an excellent supporting cast that includes Billy Zane, Lothaire Bluteau and, best of all, Quentin Crisp as Elizabeth I. The film, like the novel, is sometimes puzzling and boring, but unforgettably sumptuous, ornate and atmospheric, nevertheless.
"...[Swinton is] a stunning found object: She looks so much like a painting of English nobility come to life that she helps root the film in a mythical historical past..."
Orlando is a beautiful construct of stunning imagery woven around a fantastical tale.
It tells the tale of an androgynous being called Orlando who ceases to age after making a pact with Elizabeth I. the story is based on a novel by Virginia Woolf and is consequently quirky, surreal and emotionally wraught in equal measure.
It is however the cinematography and composition that rises this film to a thing of wonder and beauty. You could pause the film at almost any point and it would make an amazing painting. Sally Potter has put so much detail and energy into creating the visual splendour, it makes you feel as if your are floating through a dream.
Tilda Swinton's portrayal of Orlando is quite unique and deserved on the praise that was heaped on her at the time.
Orlando is an evocative, exotic and thought provoking film that really needs to be seen to be believed.
This film was excesivly artie, but not to the point of incomprehension. It was haunting and left a strong impresion on me.
Orlando is a young man in the Elizabethan era, who is singled out by an aged Queen Elizabeth as a favourit. She comands him to never grow old, and dutifuly he doesn't. We follow him through his discoveries about Love and life, through many centuries, untill one day he wakes up and is a woman! Then she gets to see things from the other perspective.
Very enjoyabul, though sometimes a little confusing.
Theatre director Julie Taymor has dismissed rumours Evan Rachel Wood has been signed up to star in her new Broadway show Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark - after issuing a casting call for all leading roles. The Wrestler actress has been widely tipped to portray the superhero's love interest, Mary Jane, when the musical, featuring tracks by U2 stars Bono and The Edge, hits the New York stage next year (10). But Taymor appears to be seeking a cast of unknowns for the comic book adaptation. The... Read more