From Princess Diana inThe Crownto Jordan Baker in 2013’s version ofThe Great Gatsby,Elizabeth Debickihasportrayed some of the biggest namesin both British and literary history on film, which is perhaps why it’s so fitting thatone of the actor’s more underappreciated roles sees her embody one of the most intimidating figures in British literature. Directed byChanya Button,Vita & Virginiaisa captivating retelling of the real-life affairbetween writers Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf in 1920s London, with the pair ardently portrayed byGemma Artertonand Debicki, respectively. Pulling from the pair’s private letters and the lavish set design of its romanticized setting,Button’s film evokes the sensuality of both to deliver a tender love story, makingVita & Virginiaa must-see for fans of literature, history, andsapphic period dramas.
What Is ‘Vita & Virginia’ About?
Vita & Virginiabenefits greatly fromits unconventional subject matter to portray a subversive relationshipwoven into the fabric of England’s heavily stratified, patriarchal society. Beginning with the pair’s 1922 meeting at a costume party thrown by the Woolfs, the film subsequentlydepicts the women’s growing fixation with each other while simultaneously juggling their equally conflicted husbands, both of whom are likewise a far cry from their times' ideal moral mold. For their part, Vita and her husband, Harold Nicholson (Rupert Penry-Jones), use their relationship as a cover both for Vita’s attraction to women and Harold’s attraction to men, while Virginia’s husband, Leonard (Peter Ferdinando), refuses to restrict his wife’s attractions while keeping an eye out for her at-times tenuous mental state. What follows isan alluring mess of cathartic queer dynamics that stands outagainst the backdropof an otherwise uptight time period.
If You Love ‘The X-Files,’ Watch Elizabeth Debicki’s Supernatural Sci-Fi Drama Series
She’s the female Spooky Mulder.
When Vita and Virginia’s growing feelings threaten both Harold’s reputation and Leonard’s stable life, the film transforms into what is at once botha historical drama anda nuanced, romantic love triangle,but Button never forgets the film’s real stars are in its title. Aside from treating literary fans to a tantalizing glimpse into the inner workings of the Woolfs' Hogarth Press and the golden days ofthe uniquely eccentric Bloomsbury Group,Vita & Virginiais at its most enjoyable when it allows its stars to be alone in a roomtogether. The pair’s attempts to understand each other through both language and sex allowVita & Virginiato act as both a commentary on the origins of literature andan interrogation of how two vastly different people can create a relationship.
Elizabeth Debicki Brings Vulnerability and Clarity to ‘Vita & Virginia’s Literary Giant
Stepping into the shoes of a literary figure as well known as Virginia Woolf would be a nerve-wracking challenge for anyone, butDebicki does a phenomenal job in whatis undeniably one of her best roles.In particular, the same reserved dignity that serves Debicki so well inThe Crownworks well to bring Woolf’s erudite severity to life, and Debicki is able to balance this seemingly harsh, calculating intelligence withthe same unassuming humor and striking discernment that can be felt reading any of the real Woolf’s novels.Debicki also imbues her portrayal with a heartbreaking sensitivitythat can’t be ignored once her Virginia struggles with what London society dubs her madness but which her friends, to their credit, recognize as a precarious mental state, highlightingthe inner turmoil of a woman most people wouldn’t think twice to questionas a writer celebrated by so many.
Virginia’s struggle to distinguish her vivid imagination from reality reaches a fever pitch as she battles to sort out her feelings amidst Vita’s overwhelming affections, and the pair’s tension finally climaxes witha bittersweet conclusion you’re able to only fully unpackonce you’ve seen it. Thankfully, the film doesn’t stretch so far as to depict the circumstances of Virginia’s death in 1941, though it does culminate in the creation ofOrlando,making Button’s film something of an origin storyfor a novel thathas already noticeably been adapted. Button’s nods to the novel are a tribute to a work whose queer, gender-bending themes are more than ahead of their time, and the film’s depiction ofOrlando’s conception is just one more wayVita & Virginiacaptures the love of its historical leads. The film doesn’t quite evoke a sense of passion equal to the stature of its subjects, butVita & Virginiais neverthelessa moving portrait of the bond between two women who deserve to be remembered.
Vita & Virginia
