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Virginia Woolf's Night & Day

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Virginia Woolf's Night & Day

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Summary

A young woman defies her family's expectations of marriage to pursue her passion; astronomy. Star-studded adaption of Virginia Woolf's novel.

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Review

A star rating of 3 out of 5.

Kevin Harley

Poised between Victorian literary tradition and her later experimental works, Virginia Woolf's 1919 second novel is the source for this likeable but predictable period comedy drama of female self-determination. It's 1910, and Katharine "Kit" Hilbery (Haley Bennett) is expected to marry patronising writer William (Jack Whitehall) by her stuffy parents (Jennifer Saunders, Timothy Spall). But Kit's true passion is astronomy, and she yearns to break patriarchal barriers and study at Cambridge. Director Tina Gharavi mounts a simplified take on a knotty novel, which works breezily enough as a vehicle for Bennett's smartly energetic and appealing lead performance. Whitehall adds amusing support as a prattling poet, but Kit's bond with a gay man (Misia Butler) and crush on a literary editor (Elyas M'Barek) receive sketchy handling. Spall is flatly typecast as the fusty "papa", too, and Justine Waddell's screenplay often leans towards the didactic. The result can feel faintly staid, though a fluttering synth score, some handheld camerawork and a few smart support casting choices (Lily Allen, indie singer Nadine Shah) add sparks of dynamism.

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5.6/10

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Credits

Cast

rolenameKatharine HilberyHaley BennettRalph DenhamElyas M'BarekMary DatchetLily AllenWilliam RodneyJack WhitehallMrs HilberyJennifer SaundersMr HilberyTimothy SpallJoan DenhamSally PhillipsLady Margaret HugginsFrances Barber

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Crew

rolenameDirectorTina Gharavi

Details

Theatrical distributor

Vue Lumiere

Released on

2026-06-19

Languages

English

Formats

Colour

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