Mrs. Dalloway
Mrs. Dalloway

Movie spotlight

Mrs. Dalloway

1997
Movie
97 min
English

Clarissa Dalloway looks back on her youth as she readies for a gathering at her house. The wife of a legislator and a doyenne of London's upper-crust party scene, Clarissa finds that the plight of ailing war veteran Septimus Warren Smith reminds her of a past romance with Peter Walsh. In flashbacks, young Clarissa explores her possibilities with Peter.

Insights

IMDb6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes75%
Metacritic70/100
Google Users78%
Director: Marleen GorrisGenres: Drama, Romance

Plot Summary

In post-World War I London, Clarissa Dalloway prepares to host a party, reflecting on her life and lost loves. As the day unfolds, her recollections intertwine with the experiences of Septimus Smith, a shell-shocked veteran struggling with his sanity. The narrative explores themes of memory, identity, societal expectations, and the inner lives of women in the early 20th century.

Critical Reception

Mrs. Dalloway was met with generally positive reviews, praised for its faithful adaptation of Virginia Woolf's novel and its strong central performances. Critics highlighted Natasha Richardson's nuanced portrayal of the titular character and the film's sensitive exploration of complex psychological and social themes.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its faithful and atmospheric adaptation of Virginia Woolf's classic novel.

  • Natasha Richardson delivers a compelling and sensitive performance as Clarissa Dalloway.

  • The film effectively captures the novel's exploration of memory, societal constraints, and the inner world of its characters.

Google audience: Audiences generally appreciated the film's artistic direction and Natasha Richardson's performance, finding it a thoughtful and visually pleasing adaptation. Some viewers noted that the film's pacing could feel slow at times, but most found the emotional depth and thematic resonance to be rewarding.

Fun Fact

The film adaptation significantly deviates from Virginia Woolf's stream-of-consciousness narrative style by externalizing the characters' inner thoughts through voiceovers, a choice made to make the story more accessible to a wider audience.

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TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

It's the morning of her party, and the eponymous "Clarissa" (Vanessa Redgrave) is a little apprehensive. She's married to a politician (John Standing) who has jilted her for luncheon on this important day, so she sets off to buy some flower...

CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

It's the morning of her party, and the eponymous "Clarissa" (Vanessa Redgrave) is a little apprehensive. She's married to a politician (John Standing) who has jilted her for luncheon on this important day, so she sets off to buy some flower...

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