Customer Reviews

Portrait of a Marriage

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I watched this in 1992 when it was shown on PBS's "Masterpiece Theatre", introduced each Sunday night by the late, great Alistair Cooke. The very tall Janet McTeer (all 6' of her!) and Cathryn Harrison are superb in their roles. Other stand-outs are David Haig and Diana Fairfax. At the time it was shown on American TV, there were at least 30 minutes cut from what the Brits saw in the BBC version. I am delighted to finally get my hands on the unedited version of this extremely well-done slice of obscure history.

I first watched this series when it came out in much anticipated weekly installments on Masterpiece Theater in 1992. My rapture lasted from Sunday to Sunday and having now the full serving at one sitting allows me to recapture small nuances that had fallen into the abyss of forgetfulness (it was fourteen years ago!) The story of the Nicolsons and of Vita and Violet is the story of a longing that exhilarates and crushes, as Janet McTeer's face and actions vividly capture. Her longing for Violet, as compared to her true longing for her husband, makes one believe that loving only one person is perhaps unnatural and unhealthy. Harold comes across as truly "male" in that he expects Vita to return to him even though he continues to pursue his same-sex relationships. One sometimes wonders if his love for her is truly deep or whether his awareness of social convention is stronger than Vita's, as she continuously lives on the edges of her passions. Vita is striking as portrayed by Ms McTeer, both as a woman and disguised as a man. Violet is a striking beauty but comes off as more needy and less insightful. Mr. Trefusis is portrayed as a prig, lost in a vortex of passion that he cannot feel, much less comprehend. This is a most thoughtful and detailed "portrait" of relationships--male/female and female/female--without condescension or judgment. Watch it carefully and come to your own conclusion to be sure: I suspect your thoughts about sexual relations will be profoundly shaken.

I've only seen the edited version on the US LOGO network and I'm in the process of reading the book right now, but let me tell you, this story is gripping and really pulls you in emotionally. The adaptation from book, which is part autobiographical by Vita Sackville-West (written only days after the climax of her relationship with Violet Trefusis) and part biographical by Vita and Harold's son Nigel, is simply wonderful. Janet McTeer who captivated me in films like "Songcatcher" and "Tumbleweeds" is stunning as Vita. Her ability to shift from Vita's fierce desire for Violet to Harold's gentle wife is amazing. I know I'm ignoring the other actors in the film, not to say that they weren't wonderful as well(particulary David Haig as Harold) but the reason watch this film really is Janet McTeer.

Very seldom do I see films that grip me emotionally as much as this one has. The fact that this film as well as the book were ever made fulfills a prophecy of Vita's which she expresses so heartfeltly in the book. Which (to summerize)is that society will one day progress enough that stories like her's, Harold's and Violet's can be told and not looked upon with disgust and shame but rather by that of an open mind and perhaps educate others.

I never thought that the BBC would finally put this wonderful miniseries on DVD. I contacted them years ago, to no avail. I'm thrilled that Janet McTeer (who shines in practically any work, movie or theater) will be seen by many who were not able to watch this in 1992.

Excellent acting and a gripping storyline that will stay with you long after the movie ends.

This is a superb BBC production. High production values. It's a TV luxury. Based on Vita's memoire of her love affair with Violet Keppel Trefusis which can be found in Nigel Nicolson's 'Portrait of a Marriage' as well as Violet's letters and Vita's biography, it is intelligently scripted by Penelope Mortimer and acted excellently by a high calibre cast. The drama is gut wrenchingly effective in parts. There is a violent scene between Vita and Violet that made me want to jump into the TV and put an end to it. Of note for me is the acting of Cathryn Harrison especially in the first 2 episodes; she is a perfect Violet awesomely in love with Vita. The blood from Violet's face would drain when she caught sight of Vita; she wanted to give all of herself to Vita. Cathryn transmits this intensity of feeling with great skill - this is marvelous acting (watch for her reactions especially in the love scenes). Peter Birch/Denys Trefusis also has a similar quality. Only David Haig as Harold grates because the direction has him play the part too passively as a kind of neutered man- still we get the point of the dynamics. Janet McTeer is excellent and conveys the idea of Vita's so called dual nature well.

In the final 2 episodes disenchantment sets in as it did in real life and the story ends in Amiens, France (early 1920) in a fevered destructive climax. At the end the sheen has come off all the characters. I no longer cared much about Vita and Harold but was concerned about Violet especially and Denys who are left with a ruined future - we are not told what happened to them and they are not contextualised in the drama. The absence of Violet's powerful and famous mother Alice Keppel is a flaw as she was instrumental in the ending of the affair. The DVD includes a very short note about Vita but nothing about the others.

The post script is that Vita and Violet continued their relationship as far as they could until Spring 1921. Denys Trefusis sought a formal separation which would have brought the whole affair into the public domain (he was penniless and would need alimony I suppose but he was also seething from humiliation). Lawyers and matriarchs came onto the scene and Vita agreed, through lawyers, to give Violet up. Violet became bereft, lost and declassee or ostracised from high society - a great humiliation for her mother (Edward VII's discreet, clever mistress). She was confined and banned from contacting Vita. Violet and Denys eventually reached an agreement and went to live in Paris - the spoiled marriage turned into a fragile companionship funded by Mrs Keppel. Denys introduced the lonely Violet to the high priestess of arts and music, Princess Polignac and that love affair was tolerated because of its discretion. This enabled the brilliantly intelligent Violet (we don't see much of this in the TV series) to become classee in Paris's high society and in Florence where she inherited her parents' villa. She never married again but, after poor Denys died of consumption, she went back to her flirting girlish ways -even as a grande dame in Paris and Florence -and had many a male suitor as she did before she met Vita. Not many in France and Italy knew about her true past. There must have been a buried sadness - she knew that her ideal of love had failed; she lived the artificial facile life, albeit with an ironic eye, she had once so hated and became quite eccentric. But she lived in her beloved France. Her heart was French, she said. She once prophesied that her life would be one of waste. Maybe it was but she gave a lot of pleasure to her many friends. She wrote published books. And I take my hat off to her for getting through it all.

Vita and Harold lived in companionship and never had intimate relations again. Vita continued to have affairs and wrecked a couple of marriages on the way but managed to have an enduring mostly platonic, passionate friendship with Virginia Woolf. There is evidence that Violet and Vita felt the flame again in their middle age but desisted. The friendship was worn down by disappointment - both represented fallen ideals and wasted potential. Harold had his liaisons but they were never grand affairs. Vita became quite reclusive at Sissinghurst and her biography politely implies she may have liked the alcohol a bit too much in older age. She was ambivalent towards her children. She and Harold lived apart most of the time but their affectionate companionship endured to the end and Harold - a man of real substance with a raft of books to his name as does Vita - was left desolate when Vita died in 1962. The beautiful garden at Sissinghurst is the best portrait of their marriage. Violet was the last to leave this earth in 1972 -

"My heart was more disgraceful, more alone
And more courageous than the world has known,
O passer by my heart was like your own."

Shortly after Nigel Nicolson's book was published. London (and Paris and Florence for the 1st time) was aghast all over again. And now, here we are. Buy this DVD. It's honestly one of the best BBC dramas ever. Then, if still interested, buy the biographies by Glendinning and Souhami.

Luckily, I was there to tape it, but if you didn't see this when it came on PBS in 1992, you missed it for 14 years. I've been letting many a bisexual female friend borrow my copy, so I'm glad this is finally on DVD. As popular as the topic of female bisexuality is now, I'm really surprised the producers didn't make this decision sooner.
There have been many films where one spouse comes out as gay ("Brokeback Mountain," "Making Love," and "Lianna" are examples). However, this was a rare description of a "lavender marriage" where both spouses are gay. This film may be revolutionary to see for couples that fit that description.
This work was quite pioneering for its time. Cinema fans who love seeing women's narratives in Europe during the first half of the 20th Century will love this. Works such as "Tipping the Velvet", "Henry and June", and "Paris Was a Woman" came after this movie and may have copied elements of it.
Just like "Brokeback Mountain," this film has a tragic conclusion (I haven't given up the plot, you'll have to see it to know what I mean). Since it portrays facts that really happened, I can't fault it much for the ending. Still, be prepared for a downer!
Though Sackville-West had a romantic relationship with Virginia Woolf, it does not come up in this work.

The brilliant telling of the real-life love affair between feminist writer Vita Sackville-West and novelist Violet Keppel, women lovers in post WWI England, is devastating and exquisite. The amazing and intriguing story of the intertwining real lives of the main characters is riveting and surprising; the characters are completely compelling and irresistable. The drama of passion and the devastating jealousy between the women, combined simultaneously with real love and devotion between Vita and her bi-sexual husband, Harold Nicholson, fills every sense. The love scenes between the women are refreshingly realistic and passionate; with every liaison, Vita becomes more and more torn between her two loves. Excellent cinimatography. The period details are perfect. A true experience to enjoy over a couple of evenings.

Based on the book completed by Nigel Nicholson about his parents based on letters and journals left by Vita, this mini-series is absolutely wonderful!

I had almost given up hope that this great series would ever appear on video or DVD. Ever since I first saw it on television in the early 1990's it has been on my 'want' list. Great acting, great costumes and settings and a wonderful if tragic story.Based on the book by Nigel Nicholson it is the story of his parents marriage. The 'film' particularly deals with the relationship his mother (Vita Sackville-west) had with Violet Keppel (later Trefusis). I would also suggest "Mrs. Keppel and Her Daughter "by Diana Souhami as followup reading. Souhami's biography is beautifully put-together with a wonderful 'spread' of photos. Her obvious sympathy for Violet is refreshing.

BBC produces such masterfully crafted works of amazement . I found this to be gripping from start to finish . I loved the rich dynamic tapestry of character , plot , passion , endurance . I found myself quite endeared to Harold . This film gave me pause to reflect on the true nature of making a life long partnership work. For me , money well spent . I will watch this many times & each will glimmer something new .

I'm appalled by all the positive reviews of this rather tired and maudlin film which is said to be based on the altogether wonderful book "Portrait of a Marriage" by Nigel Nicolson. As far as adapatations go, this is one of the least faithful I've ever encountered. Either the writer of the film used various sources other than Nicolson's book, or she made things up (which is not likely). Gone is the rich history of her mother and grandfather, of growing up, of her later years and relationship with Virginia Woolf. Only a brief line or two mentions Vita's first romance with Rosamond. This is not a portrait of a marriage, but rather the portrait of an affair. Vita is portrayed as a spoiled malcontent trapped in a loveless marriage (which is the opposite of the portrait in the book). The cast is not at fault; indeed they are all to be praised (especially McTeer). Likewise, the production elements are all first rate. It is the direction, teleplay and dramatic pacing which are at odds with the source material. The characters are poorly drawn, and their motivations not well articulated. What about Violet has captured and possessed Vita, is it her personality,her sexual magnatism, is she thrilling and vibrant? Not here. We have no "real" clue as to what has brought these two women together in such an all consuming passion. These characters - as depicted - are spoiled rich brats; and it was hard for me to give a damn about them and their "classy" problems. The book is so rich is detail, history and atmosphere which this film doesn't even attempt to capture. It is a one note affair (pardon the pun) and one I can not in good faith recommend. Please, please, please, read the book and skip the film.