CinemaSerf

Jun 30, 2026

6.0

I'm not too sure that Virgina Woolf would be exactly over-whelmed by this rather lacklustre adaptation of her book. It follows the aspirational "Katie" (Haley Bennett) as she struggles to fight against the established patriarchy of Edwardian Britain. She is indulged by her kindly dad (Timothy Spall) but he is still quite keen to accept the suit of her long-term friend "William" (Jack Whitehall) to be shot of her and concentrate on his would-be writer wife "Bess" (Jennifer Saunders). She, on the other hand, plans to study at Cambridge and isn't really contemplating matrimony with anyone. Unless, perhaps, with her best friend "Cyril" (Misia Butler) - though we get the distinct impression his dial might point in an altogether different direction. Determined to publish her now completed - and somewhat epic - tome, "Bess" acquires the services of "Ralph" (Elyas M'Barek) to help edit it down and after a while he and "Katie" begin to bond - adding a further complication to her already rather unconventional life! The production looks great - in the vein of something Merchant Ivory were producing four decades ago, but with the possible exception of Spall who does manage to imbue something of the increasingly lost - bewildered even - to his character, the remainder of this is all just a bit too lightweight. It addresses a broad range of controversial topics and taboos but with the exception of one quite powerful scene at the university from Bannett, the rest of this is all just a little too undeveloped. It may well be that trying to cut this story down to ninety minutes hasn't helped, but given the cast here I am not sure anything lengthier would have helped either. Perhaps a two-parter that could put more meat on the bones of the characters - especially "Cyril" and "Mary" (Lily Allen) would be better? Otherwise I'm sorry but this is good looking but disappointing.