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Rating:  - A Woman Hard To Like
It all sounds terribly thrilling at first: a marriage between two homosexuals of opposite sexes, enjoying married life while engaging in same-sex affairs. It's almost too good to be true, which is exactly what is shown in this engrossing dramatization. The acting is flawless, but the characters seem hardly attractive. Vita Sackville-West plays a terribly selfish, destructive person who talks a good game of devotion to husband and children, but loses herself so much in her passing lusts that she not only can't see why she should spend Christmas with her family, but can't see why the British should defeat Hitler. She's giddy with her new-found sexual liberation but becomes a stranger to reason and, finally, almost wholly unsympathetic. Her horsey bad looks and fabulous wealth evidently made her irresistible to some, but as acted this is a woman who verges on the detestable. Husband Harold is oddly weak and ordinary. Vita's girlfriend seems merely vulgar.
Rating:  - Great
This is one of the best films I've seen in a long time. They did an excellent job distilling the long and detailed book to bring out the crucial themes--Vita as a person with two different natures, the complex relationship between Vita and Harold, his diplomacy in their relationship, the deep resistance to lesbianism in this era, Violet's complex personality. The acting was tremendous--utterly believable. High production standards. I'm watching for the second time and enjoying as much as the first.
Rating:  - Pretty but downbeat
Nigel Nicholson's book is a biographical gem and I expected a lot from the TV series. I was let down. It's prettily filmed, well acted and evokes the period well, but there was a petulant, downbeat feel to the screenplay that wasn't present in the book. Neither Vita Sackville West nor Violet Trefussis was presented sympathetically, which I felt belied the fact that both were sufficiently attractive in real life to interest many suitors of both sexes. The only character who came off well was Nigel Nicholson. Subliminal anti-gay bias in the production team? Despite this, I liked it enough to buy the DVD.
Rating: - Epic! Eloquently spans the spectrum of emotion, design, and quality film making!
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!
Rating: - Violet and Vita
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.
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