Ken Russell returns to the author of one of his greatest triumphs, D.H Lawrence, for a prequel to Women in Love that showcases the singular director’s flair for romantic flamboyance and erotic power. Ursula (Sammi Davis) finds herself falling for her swimming and gym teacher Winifred (Amanda Donahoe), and the two start a romance. However, she soon also has feelings for Anton (Paul McGann), a nearby student and soldier. At the heart of a tense love triangle, Ursula indulges in her passion while pondering what direction she wants to go in life – and whether that includes the prospect of love or not.
The plight of women in the 1840s London rag trade is explored and deconstructed. Informed by experimental film practice and evoking a serialised Victorian novel, this unusual film investigates the effects of protectionist ‘philanthropy' in the sweatshop-style London clothes trade using contempor...
