Phil Roberts 
With a sharp, poignant screenplay by Justine Waddell and a treasure trove of standout performances from its impressive cast, Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day is a triumph!
Big-screen adaptations of celebrated novels are a dime a dozen these days. Some are exceptional, while others are average middle-of-the-road fare churned out to appease the masses before dropping, inevitably, into the bargain bin. So, when an adaptation arrives with something legitimate to say and sparks healthy conversation, we take notice. Enter Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day. Tina Gharavi’s adaptation of Woolf’s second novel is a bold swing, one that deserves its spot in the limelight. The legendary author famously took her own life and suffered through the ordeals of war, severe depression, and the struggles of women of the time. So, given the current state of world affairs, the film has arrived at the perfect time.
But is the world ready for Tina Gharavi’s adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s celebrated volume? Or is Night & Day another poorly executed, disposable interpretation of a classic?
REVIEW
Fear not, dear readers, because Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day is a wonderful exploration of women’s empowerment in the early 1900s. Led by Haley Bennett as Katherine Hilbery, the film is a thoroughly enjoyable exploration of the era’s stereotypes and the challenges women faced in being seen and heard. With a sharp, poignant screenplay by Justine Waddell, the directorial vision of Tina Gharavi, and a treasure trove of great performances from its impressive cast, the film is a triumph.
VIRGINIA WOOLF
Adapting Virginia Woolf’s material for a modern audience is a bold move for a studio. Still, thankfully, Stellican Asterisk Films, Piccadilly Pictures, Kioski, GLISK, FilmHedge, and M.Y.R.A. Entertainment have collaborated on a noteworthy attempt. From the opening moments, the narrative references Woolf’s fascination with astrology and the way the author chose to take her own life. It’s a poignant entry point, one that won’t be lost on fans of her work, and it adds weight to the legacy she forged for herself despite the crippling afflictions she endured.
For those unfamiliar with Woolf’s volume, Night & Day follows Katherine Hilbery, a young, dreamy astronomer who, upon coming of age, is expected to marry a suitor of her father’s choosing, a custom of the time. Instead of pursuing her dream of studying at Oxford, she is expected to set aside her aspirations and sacrifice them to become a housewife and childbearer. However, the rebellious young woman has other ideas and sets out to prove her worth to the institution’s patriarchal, male-dominated leaders.
HALEY BENNET
What follows is a long, painful road of disappointment with Katherine’s dreams being ridiculed and torn to shreds by the stereotypes of the time. But despite being forced to accept an engagement to her close friend William (Jack Whitehall), Katherine plans to challenge the opinions that keep her restrained and liberate the dreams of women everywhere. Along the way, she befriends the spirited suffragette Mary Datchet (Lily Allen), and together they explore ways to overcome the obstacles women faced in the era.
Bringing Katherine’s rebellious spirit to life is the exceptional Haley Bennett. A role of this magnitude demands a talent with the youth, energy, and confidence of a seasoned pro, and Bennett rises to the challenge with zeal. From the opening moments, Bennett makes the character her own, and her passion oozes through the screen. The actor brings a warm innocence to the role, despite the oppression and heartbreak she is forced to endure, but she shines through the material, no matter how dark it becomes.
SUPPORTING CAST
Throughout the film, Bennett’s energy becomes infectious, and we flock to her banner without a second thought. We rally to her cause, support her challenges to the male-driven hierarchy, and feel the pain when she is rebuffed and mocked. It is rare for an actor to elicit such an emotional resonance, but Bennett pulls it off with ease, and that is the highest compliment I can pay.
Supporting her throughout the film is a wealth of British talent, bringing some hefty seasoned brilliance to the project. Timothy Spall co-stars as Katherine’s insufferable, conceited father, alongside the always reliable Jennifer Saunders, who plays her belittled mother. In an intriguing subplot, Mrs. Hilbery is a budding author whose works are being forcibly censored by her domineering husband to make her writings more male-driven. Spall deserves credit for bringing this character to life with such conviction. The role is thankless, but his work here is exceptional.
Rounding out the main cast are Jack Whitehall, who turns in a perfectly awkward, fun, but equally quirky performance as William. Again, Whitehall’s casting is a masterstroke. The comedian-turned-actor delivers a performance that keeps the material light and breezy even when the subject matter turns oppressive. The same can be said for Lily Allen’s Mary Datchet. Allen plays a limited role in the film, but her involvement is always welcome, and it adds weight to the women’s movement of the time.
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Lastly, I cannot end the review without praising the cinematography of Sebastian Edschmid. Bringing 1900s England to life is a thankless task, but Edschmid accomplishes it with aplomb. The film feels like a time capsule brimming with the era’s trappings, backdrops, and buildings. Filming locations included the Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle upon Tyne, the Common Room of the Great North, Ryhope Engines Museum, Tanfield Railway, and the Beamish Museum, all of which only add to the atmosphere.
The same can be said for Simon Goff’s soundtrack. Goff’s music conjures images of Victorian London and the pomp and circumstance attached to the hierarchy of the institutions that helped build the world. It’s a weighty score that transforms the film into a legitimate window into the past. I must confess, I am unfamiliar with the composer’s previous works, but given the brilliance of his music here, I will rectify that mistake shortly. But rest assured, his work here is a triumph, and only heightens the period drama we explore on screen in such brilliance.
VERDICT
Overall, Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day is a perfectly acceptable adaptation of one of the author’s most beloved books. Led brilliantly by the impressive Haley Bennett, the film is a wonderful exploration of 1900s England and the oppression of women. Tina Gharavi brings Woolf’s work to life with a seasoned hand and a wealth of documentary-filming experience, giving the project a unique, realistic quality.
The Iranian-born director deserves credit for crafting a film with this much integrity. Her work here is on par with the genre’s best, and I cannot wait to see her flex her muscles on bigger projects. Handling a project of this magnitude is a testament to her abilities, and I urge every cinephile to enjoy her energy here.
Ultimately, Night & Day is a love letter to Virginia Woolf’s life. The author’s struggles come to life on screen and resonate with the audience so powerfully that one cannot help but be swept up in the narrative. Times may have changed, but the struggles of the era’s women were real and should never be forgotten. While it may not rival some of the bigger releases this year, I’d urge you to check out Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day for its thought-provoking, humbling story and extremely welcome change of pace.
Dream big!
Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day launches in UK cinemas on June 19.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
