The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister
The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister

Movie spotlight

The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister

2010
Movie
90 min
English

A lesbian in the 1800s who keeps a detailed account of her life written in coded diaries attempts to live independently while juggling an affair with a married woman.

Insights

IMDb6.6/10
Director: Jamie PayneGenres: Biographical, Drama, History, Romance

Plot Summary

This biographical drama chronicles the life of Anne Lister, an English landowner and diarist in the early 19th century. Lister documented her daily life, her romantic relationships with women, and her business affairs in a coded diary. The film explores her unconventional lifestyle and her determination to live life on her own terms in a restrictive era.

Critical Reception

The film received generally positive reviews, with particular praise for Maxine Peake's performance as Anne Lister. Critics noted its sensitive portrayal of Lister's life and her complex relationships, as well as its historical accuracy.

What Reviewers Say

  • Maxine Peake delivers a compelling and nuanced performance.

  • The film sensitively handles Anne Lister's personal life and her struggles.

  • A well-crafted historical drama that sheds light on a remarkable woman.

Google audience: Information on Google user reviews is not readily available.

Fun Fact

Anne Lister's diaries, which contain over four million words, are written in a code that combines an alphabet cipher with Greek letters, and were not fully deciphered until decades after her death.

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