Virginia Woolf's Night and Day
| Virginia Woolf's Night and Day | |
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| Directed by | Tina Gharavi |
| Screenplay by | Justine Waddell |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Sebastian Edschmid |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Simon Goff |
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Running time | 95 minutes[2] |
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| Language | English |
Virginia Woolf's Night and Day is a 2026 romantic drama film directed by Tina Gharavi and starring Haley Bennett, Timothy Spall, Jennifer Saunders, Jack Whitehall, Sally Phillips, Lily Allen, and Elyas M'Barek.[3] It was written by Justine Waddell, adapted from the 1919 Virginia Woolf novel of the same name.
Synopsis
In Britain at the turn of the 20th century, a female astronomer tries to avoid the patriarchal attitudes of the day.[4]
Set in London in 1910 brilliant and headstrong Katharine Hilbery resists her parents' plans for marriage, determined instead to pursue her passion for astronomy. When her controlling father, Mr. Hilbery forces her into an engagement with family friend William, Katharine's carefully guarded independence is threatened.
Her world begins to expand when she befriends spirited suffragette Mary Datchet and crosses paths with working-class editor Ralph Denham, who is assisting her mother, Mrs. Hilbery with a family biography. As romantic loyalties shift, Katharine is pushed to question everything she has been taught about love, ambition, and how to claim her space in the world.
Cast
- Haley Bennett as Katherine Hilbery
- Lily Allen as Mary Datchet
- Timothy Spall as Terence Hilbery
- Elyas M'Barek as Ralph Denham
- Jack Whitehall as William Rodney
- Jennifer Saunders as Bess Hilbery
- Sally Phillips as Joan Denham
- Misia Butler as Cyril Otway
- Alex Macqueen as Sir Alexander Holmes
- Simon Phillips as Sir Francis Otway
- Frances Barber as Lady Margaret Huggins
Production
It was produced by Asterisk Films, Piccadilly Pictures, Stellican, Kioski, and GLISK, and the producers include Justine Waddell, Stephen Julius, Christopher Figg, Meg Thomson, Julie Link and Philipp Steffens.[5]
Principal photography began in Newcastle upon Tyne in late 2024,[6][7] and was completed in February 2025.[8] Filming locations included the Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle upon Tyne,[9] Common Room of the Great North, Ryhope Engines Museum,[10] Tanfield Railway and Beamish Museum.[11] Additional filming took place in Cologne, Germany.[7]
Release
Virginia Woolf's Night and Day premiered at the South by Southwest London on 1 June 2026.[12] It was released in the United Kingdom on 19 June 2026, and was released in Germany on 9 July 2026.[13] In May 2026, Quiver Distribution acquired the U.S. distribution rights, for a September 4, 2026 release.[14]
Reception
Peter Bradshaw in The Guardian gave the film 4/5 stars, writing: "The film removes Woolf’s supercilious condescension towards the self-betterment of newly educated lower and middle classes, and instead focuses on a sweet-natured story, performed with conviction by its all-star ensemble cast, interspersed with dreamlike set pieces."[15]
In Variety, Guy Lodge wrote: "As much as Gharavi tries to energize proceedings with a bobbing handheld camera and an electro-tinged score that, in the closing credits, finally bubbles over into ethereal, Ellie Goulding-style pop, Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day can feel talky and stiffly didactic, however sincere in its convictions."[16]
Kevin Maher in The Times gave the film 4/5 stars, writing: "Bennett is exceptional, part open wound, part furious intensity, and Whitehall gives us his best blue-blooded buffoon yet. The ending is perfectly bittersweet."[17]
References
- ↑ "NIGHT & DAY [6]" (in German). Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle der Filmwirtschaft. March 12, 2026. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
- ↑ "'Virginia Woolf's Night & Day' (12A)". British Board of Film Classification. May 12, 2026. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Virginia Woolf's Night and Day". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
- ↑ Rowan, Iona (November 8, 2024). "First look at Jack Whitehall and Jennifer Saunders in UK-set comedy". Digital Spy. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ↑ Couch, Aaron (May 16, 2024). "Lily Allen Joins Haley Bennett in Virginia Woolf Adaptation 'Night and Day'". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ↑ "Jack Whitehall and Jennifer Saunders join Virginia Woolf's Night & Day". Comedy.co.uk. November 7, 2024. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- 1 2 Tabbara, Mona (November 7, 2024). "First look at 'Virginia Woolf's Night & Day'; Jack Whitehall, Jennifer Saunders join cast". Screen Daily. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ↑ "Virginia Woolf's Night and Day: Newcastle University academic's film of classic novel finishes principle [sic] photography". Newcastle University Press Office. February 7, 2025.
- ↑ Foster, Adam (November 2, 2024). "Film crew takes over Lit & Phil in Newcastle for movie adaptation of Virginia Woolf novel Night and Day". Chronicle Live. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ↑ "Ryhope Engines Museum -". Sunderland Global Media. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
- ↑ Duke, Simon (October 24, 2024). "Auf Wiedersehen Pet star and music icon cast in film to be shot at Beamish". Chronicle Live. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
- ↑ "'Virginia Woolf's Night & Day' - SXSW London". South by Southwest London. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
- ↑ Billington, Alex (April 17, 2026). "Un-Romantic Comedy Movie 'Virginia Woolf's Night & Day' Full Trailer". First Showing. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
- ↑ Barraclough, Leo (May 15, 2026). "North American Rights to 'Virginia Woolf's Night & Day,' Starring Haley Bennett and Lily Allen, Acquired by Quiver". Variety. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
- ↑ Bradshaw, Peter (June 2, 2026). "Virginia Woolf's Night and Day review – dreamy adaptation reaches for the stars". The Guardian. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
- ↑ Lodge, Guy (June 2, 2026). "'Virginia Woolf's Night & Day' Review: Haley Bennett Is Starry-Eyed in a Literary Adaptation With Much Heart and a Heavy Hand". Variety. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
- ↑ Maher, Kevin (June 19, 2026). "Virginia Woolf's Night & Day review — it's Jack Whitehall's best buffoon yet". The Times. Retrieved June 23, 2026.