Who's Afraid Of Virgina Woolf?

Originally a stage play, 'Who's Afraid Of Virgina Woolf' caused a stir in the 50's due to the powerful themes it delved into- marriage, mental illness, family, career, children, alchoholism. These issues today are still very much top of the agenda but the way in which these themes were dealt with caused quite a sensation. The idea that the desire to have the perfect marriage, family, career, love (aspects of life that most will assume are just givens) can in fact strip away a person's self-esteem and uniqueness was something completely unheard of, blashpemous, impossible. But it's this desire for an 'ideal' that comsumes a person and can eventually destroy them. Failing to achieve these ideals renders you a social failure.

The film adaptation sees a dishevelled Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton verbally and sometimes physically battling it out for the duration of the film over marriage, love, children and promiscuity in the presence of a pair of new weds who on first glance represent the 50's ideal- young and ambitious. It sounds like 90 minutes of Jeremy Kyle but it's done in such an intelligent, impassioned way, the intensity can cut through you like a knife. For the duration of the film you're drawn into the characters' descent into a muddy drunk fuzz where reality and fantasy merge and bombshells are dropped left, right and centre. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. As 'THE END' fades onto the screen it'll take you at least the whole night to get your breath back.


Martha and George are at it again...



I watched this film a couple of days ago and it is still stuck firmly in my mind. Films I have seen that I feel share this same level of intensity are, 'A Street Car Named Desire' and 'Replusion' both of which I watched for the first time a few years back. Once the closing credits roll on screen you are left in such a heady state as each film is such an emotional explosion! When we get back from tour I'll post up a few more of my must-see films and as ever, film recomendations are highly apprieciated!!!!!


X-Bird