Carrington (film)

Carrington

Company type	Film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	1995
Founder	Christopher Hampton (writer and director)
Products	Biographical drama film

Carrington is a 1995 British biographical film crafted by Christopher Hampton, who both wrote and directed it. The movie portrays the life of the English artist Dora Carrington (1893–1932). Its script draws from Lytton Strachey: A Critical Biography, a detailed two-volume work published between 1967 and 1968 by Michael Holroyd, chronicling the life of writer and critic Lytton Strachey (1880–1932).

Plot summary

Featuring Emma Thompson in the lead role, the film delves into Carrington's nontraditional relationship with author Lytton Strachey, portrayed by Jonathan Pryce, alongside interactions with other figures from the Bloomsbury Group.

The narrative unfolds in six distinct segments:

1. Lytton & Carrington 1915: Set during World War I, Lytton visits Vanessa Bell's residence, where he encounters Carrington for the first time. Initially, Carrington is mistaken for a male. Both share feelings of disillusionment. After Lytton awkwardly kisses her, Carrington develops romantic feelings, while Lytton avoids conscription on medical grounds.
2. Gertler 1916–1918: Artist Mark Gertler coerces Carrington into a sexual relationship. Meanwhile, Carrington and Lytton strengthen their connection and begin living together at Mill House in Tidmarsh. Upon discovering their cohabitation, Gertler physically attacks Lytton.
3. Partridge 1918–1921: To attract Lytton's attention, Carrington introduces Ralph Partridge to him. The three form a complicated dynamic; Ralph demands either marriage to Carrington or emigration. She weds Ralph but continues an intense correspondence with Lytton, culminating in a reunion during their honeymoon in Venice.
4. Brenan 1921–1923: Though married, Carrington spends most of her time at Mill House. She embarks on an affair with Gerald Brenan, who encourages her to leave Lytton. Despite exposure, the affair persists covertly while Carrington explores her lesbian identity.
5. Ham Spray House 1924–1931: Lytton and Ralph acquire Ham Spray House; Lytton joins Carrington there. The relationships grow more intricate: Ralph engages in an affair; Carrington pursues several unreciprocated lesbian relationships and becomes involved with Beacus Penrose, who fathers her child; she subsequently undergoes an abortion. Lytton's relationship with Roger Stenhouse concludes.
6. Lytton 1931–1932: As Lytton's fatal illness advances, Carrington attempts suicide but is saved. Following his death, she destroys his belongings and ultimately ends her own life. Ralph and Frances Partridge later adopt conscientious objector status during World War II.

Music

Michael Nyman composed the film’s soundtrack, primarily adapting his own String Quartet No.3 as a recurring theme representing Lytton Strachey. The score also features Franz Schubert’s String Quintet in C, D. 956 (Adagio), which appears within the movie. Newly created compositions include "Virgin on the Roof," incorporated into Nyman’s String Quartet No. 4, and the piece for Mark Gertler derived from 3 Quartets.

1. "Outside Looking In" – 9:14
2. "Opening Titles" – 1:21
3. "Fly Drive" – 1:40
4. "Cliffs of Fall" – 2:00
5. "Every Curl of your Beard" – 2:24
6. "Virgin on the Roof" – 1:40
7. "Gertler" – 3:15
8. "Leaving Gertler" – 1:27
9. "Painting the Garden of Eden" – 1:59
10. "Partridge" – 1:54
11. "Floating the Honeymoon" – 2:45
12. "Brenan" – 6:53
13. "Beacus" – 2:58
14. "Leaving Brenan" – 1:59
15. "Ham Spray House" – 1:39
16. "The Infinite Complexities of Christmas" – 4:18
17. "Something Rather Impulsive" – 1:48
18. "If This is Dying" – 1:46
19. Franz Schubert: String Quintet in C: Adagio – Amadeus Quartet/Robert Cohen (1987 recording-Polydor/Deutsche Grammophon) – 15:11

Critical response

According to Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 58% approval rating based on 31 critiques, with an average rating of 6.3 out of 10.

Renowned British film critic David Thomson lauded Carrington as the finest cinematic portrayal of the Bloomsbury Group period, emphasizing its focus on a lesser-known character. He considered Emma Thompson's role to be among her best performances and praised Jonathan Pryce’s depiction of Lytton Strachey as his most outstanding work. In subsequent evaluations, Thomson reaffirmed Pryce’s portrayal, describing it as unmistakably that of an exceptional actor.

A review published by The Guardian in 2010 observed that although Carrington maintains a high degree of historical accuracy—drawing heavily from personal diaries and correspondence—it falls short as engaging entertainment, awarding it an A− for historical fidelity but only a C for entertainment value.

Accolades

1995 Cannes Film Festival

• Special Jury Prize
• Best Actor awarded to Jonathan Pryce

1995 National Board of Review

• Best Actress - Emma Thompson (also recognized for Sense and Sensibility)

1996 Evening Standard British Film Awards

• Best Actor - Jonathan Pryce