All Passion Spent (1986)

The acclaimed BBC adaptation of Vita Sackville-West’s beloved novel starring Dame Wendy Hiller

Dame Wendy Hiller delivers a delicately nuanced performance in Vita Sackville-West’s classic story of emerging feminist identity in post-Victorian England.

"When can one please oneself if not in old age?" asks 85-year-old Lady Slane (Hiller), who frees herself from society’s expectations upon the death of her politically prominent husband. To the shock of her children, who seem more concerned with the disposition of the estate than with their mother’s happiness, the widow retreats to a cottage in the Hampstead countryside to rediscover herself.

Nominated for four BAFTA Awards (including best drama series and best actress), this BBC production brings Sackville-West’s best-known novel to the screen with all its emotional complexity, intellectual vigor, and profound feeling.

Worthwhile

I found this story absolutely superb: cast, locations and content were authentically presented; the acting was flawless. To those of us who especially appreciate that era of history, it was also instsructive. I am sure I will view it another 6 times! July 5, 2008

Profound and a gem of a film, with multiple facets, nuances and eternal sparkle

Wendy Hiller and Harry Andrews deliver haunting and very, very beautiful performances in this, one of the best films I have ever seen. It is all--every bit of it--utterly charming, provocative, true, beautiful, and brimming with life in every scene.

And the reviews that speak of Vita's feminism, though true, miss entirely the point that this film is as completely relevant socially, emotionally, and spiritually now as it was in Vita's 1930's.

The film is not glitzy, or fast, or loud, but it is one of my few all-time favorite films. Like the rest of them, it seeps into one's soul like wine falling slowing through water, eventually coloring one's whole view of life. You will not be quite the same once you have given yourself the gift of All Passion Spent. September 18, 2007

Dame Wendy Hiller at Her Best!

Seniors are usually viewed as weak and fragile people, or eccentric if they are strong in our youth-oriented society. The fabulous Wendy Hiller portrays a strong-minded elderly Lady in this excellent TV mini-series, breaking the stereotype and showing that seniors have aspirations of their own like any other age groups. Enjoy her other Oscar winning films--Separate Tables and Pygmalion - Criterion Collection September 12, 2007

great acting

This is an exceptional piece on a woman finally exercising her own thoughts and desires at a time when women didn't have these choices. November 2, 2006

She considered the lilies of the field

Lady Slane (Wendy Hiller) spent all her life being an et ux. She enjoyed being the wife of the viceroy, a mother, and a leader of charities. However when her husband died she finally, against her children's wishes, had time to contemplate her life, what it could have been and what it will be.

She moves into a smaller house that she had seen 30 years before. Now she strikes up a friend ship with people as the house owner, the craftsman repairing the house and others.

Unknown to her is a friend of one of her sons, who knew her 60 years ago in India. He reliving the time and she realizing that they both had great depth that was not required of them at the time, form a unique friendship.

We get the privilege of watching Lady Slane make her discoveries and the reaction to this by the family. Of particular interest is her great grand daughter is now on the cusp of making the same life choice that Lady Slane succumbed to.

Based on the novel by Vita Sackville-West, "All Passion Spent" we see a lot of Vita's real life parallels. The screen adaptation is by Peter Buckman. This film has that BBC quality.
October 26, 2006

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