Review of Women in Love (1969) by Alex H — 21 Sep 2009

A very interesting film that is far less focused on what actually happens during the plot than what the characters say and how they act, which is a huge strength and a slight disadvantage. At times it seems that it is almost mandatory to have read the book (which I haven't done as of yet) which I believe isn't the way to go with film. A film should stand up by itself not be as a companion piece to a book.

Having said this what is on the screen is as visually arresting and the dialogue is engrossing. Ken Russell is a director like no other, someone who seems facinated with imagary and being able to convey emotion and create tension in unconventional yet extremely fitting ways. An extremely powerful moment in the film was when the film cut from the two dead lovers in the lake to Ursula and Rupert after they had just finihsed having sex, wrapped around each other in the exact same way. A much better match cut than the over-rated bone one in Kubricks 2001.

Having said a fair bit about the direction, it is really the acting that carries the film. Each of the actors are required to portray a vast array of emotions and to perform some extremely intimate scenes and manage to make them believable. All of the leading four characters manage to pull of their roles as convincingly as they manage to pull their and each others clothes.

All in all the film is pretty damn good, and despite running over two hours the pacing is almost perfect and you are never disinterested. Probably best to have read the book first, but I'll have to do the next best thing and read the book and rewatch the film.