Vita and Virginia

Vita & Virginia is a 2018 biographical romantic drama film directed by Chanya Button. Set in the 1920s, Vita & Virginia tells the story of the love affair between Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf. The film stars Gemma Arterton as Vita Sackville-West, Elizabeth Debicki as Virginia Woolf. This blog is a thinking activity, assigned by Vaidehi Ma’am, based on this film. For more formation click here. 

1. Who do you think is initiating the relationship, Vita or Virginia? Who do you think is taking advantage of this relationship? 

In the movie, it is evident that Vita is the one who initiates the relationship. Long before their paths physically cross, Vita’s fascination with Virginia Woolf is palpable, her imagination ignited by the enigmatic aura surrounding the esteemed writer. 

At the party she is the one who approaches her. She is also the one who starts the letter correspondence. Moreover, when Virginia takes a liking to Vita, her friend says a cryptic sentence: “caught your prey”. Hence, we can say that Vita is the one that initiated the relationship. 

As for the one who gets an advantage from this relationship, it is hard to estimate. We can, however, argue that Virginia has a greater advantage as this relationship provided her inspiration and led to the creation of a literary masterpiece ‘Orlando’. 

2. Who do you think is confused about their identity Vita or Virginia? Explain with illustrations. 

According to my observations, both of them are confused about their identities in different ways. 

Vita’s struggle was around societal expectations, gender roles, and her place within the aristocratic elite. As a member of the aristocracy, Vita was expected to adhere to strict social conventions and fulfil the roles assigned to her as a wife and mother. However, she rebelled against these constraints and seeks fulfilment outside the confines of societal rules. This struggle is seen in her passionate affairs with Virginia Woolf, and other people, which defied societal norms and challenged conventional notions of love and desire.

Virginia’s battle was deeply intertwined with her mental health and her experiences of trauma. Virginia’s mental health challenges profoundly influenced her sense of self and her relationship with the world around her. She grappled with feelings of alienation, inadequacy, and existential dread. These are manifested in her writing as a sense of dislocation. Virginia’s exploration of identity was tied to her artistic endeavours, as she sought to make sense of her inner turmoil and give voice to her innermost thoughts and emotions.

Hence, both Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf experienced confusion about their identities in different ways and for different reasons. 

3. What is society’s thought about women and identity? Do you agree with them? If Yes then why? If no then why?

Society’s thoughts on women and identity have evolved over time, yet they often still grapple with deeply ingrained stereotypes and expectations. Many still follow the traditional gender roles and stereotypes. They constrain women’s identities within narrow frameworks. However, there’s a growing recognition for gender equality and the empowerment of women to define their own identities. Inspired by Virginia Woolf’s insights, I believe that women should have the autonomy to shape their identities free from oppressive norms. I reject societal limitations that seek to confine women to predefined roles and instead advocate for the celebration of diverse and authentic expressions of womanhood.

Recently I saw an interesting video that explores the concept of feminism. You can watch that here:- 

4. Write a note on your observations of the society during that era.

The movie depicts the early to mid-20th century. Society of that time was undergoing several changes. 

The film portrays a society that follows gender roles, particularly for women. We can see from Vita’s example how women were expected to fulfil the traditional roles of wives and mothers. Vita who possessed a bold personality had to suffer from her mother’s disapproval. Yet it was not like the women had no power. Vita and Virginia both were successful authors and both enjoyed certain freedom. This shows the evolving society of that time. 

The film also highlights the class division prevalent in society during that time. Vita belongs to the aristocratic elite, with access to privilege, wealth, and social status. Virginia Woolf, while part of the intellectual and artistic elite, comes from a more middle-class background. This class difference is subtly portrayed in their interactions and social circles.

5. Write a note on the direction of the movie. Which symbols and space caught your attention while watching the movie?

The direction of the movie ‘Vita and Virginia’ is skilfully done by Chanya Button. The movie captures the emotional depth of the characters and presents an immersive view in the historical context of the era. It is important to mention that Button's direction is anchored by strong performances from Gemma Arterton and Elizabeth Debicki. Both actors bring depth and nuance to their respective roles. There were many scenes that caught my attention. Some of them are:- 

Printing Scene 

The movie begins with a scene of the printing press and a similar scene is shown to suggest the printing of her novel ‘Orlando’. Both these sequence are captivating and intrigues the viewer. 

Virginia’s Mental Struggle 

Button makes use of visual distortions to convey Virginia's mental struggles during moments of heightened anxiety. Virginia's mental struggles are also depicted through physical symptoms such as headaches, or tremors, which manifest as a result of her anxiety or panic attacks. These physical manifestations serve as reminders of the toll that mental illness takes on Virginia's body and mind. One prominent scene that captures her mental struggles is when she fights off imaginary birds. This scene invokes in viewers a sympathy for her character. 

Portrayal of Leonard Woolf 

Another aspect of the film that I really admire is the character portrayal of Virginia Woolf’s husband Leonard Woolf. The care and concern he shows for Virginia throughout the film is enchanting to witness. The actor Peter Ferdinando delivers a truly praiseworthy performance. 

Overall, Chanya Button's direction in "Vita and Virginia" elevates the material and creates a visually stunning and emotional portrait of two remarkable women. 

6. If "Vita and Virginia" had to be made into a Bollywood Adaptation, who do you think would be fit for the role of Vita and Virginia?

If a Bollywood adaptation of the movie “Vita and Virginia” is made, I think Tabu would be suitable for the role of Virginia Woolf. 

The role of Vita Sackville-West could be played skilfully by Anushka Sharma. 

For further exploration, you can check out the trailer of the film here:-

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