Carrington is a 1995 British biographical film written and directed by Christopher Hampton about the life of the English painter Dora Carrington (1893–1932), who was known simply as "Carrington". The screenplay is based on biographies of writer and critic Lytton Strachey (1880–1932) by Michael Holroyd.
Carrington | |
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Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Christopher Hampton |
Produced by | John McGrath Ronald Shedlo |
Written by | Christopher Hampton |
Based on | Lytton Strachey by Michael Holroyd |
Starring |
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Music by | Michael Nyman |
Cinematography | Denis Lenoir |
Edited by | George Akers |
Production company | Le Studio Canal+ Euston Films |
Distributed by | PolyGram Filmed Entertainment Gramercy Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 120 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom France |
Language | English |
Box office | $3,242,342 |
Screenplay
The film, starring Emma Thompson in the title role, focuses on her unusual relationship with the author Lytton Strachey, played by Jonathan Pryce, as well as with other members of the Bloomsbury Group.
The film is divided into 6 chapters.
- Emma Thompson as Dora Carrington
- Jonathan Pryce as Lytton Strachey
- Steven Waddington as Ralph Partridge
- Samuel West as Gerald Brenan
- Rufus Sewell as Mark Gertler
- Penelope Wilton as Lady Ottoline Morrell
- Janet McTeer as Vanessa Bell
- Peter Blythe as Phillip Morrell
- Jeremy Northam as Beacus Penrose
- Alex Kingston as Frances Partridge
- Sebastian Harcombe as Roger Senhouse
- Richard Clifford as Clive Bell
- David Ryall as Mayor
- Stephen Boxer as Military Rep
- Annabel Mullion as Mary Hutchinson
Carrington | ||||
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Soundtrack album by Michael Nyman | ||||
Released | 1 September 1995 (UK) 3 October 1995 (United States) | |||
Recorded | 10–11 November 1994, Abbey Road Studios, London | |||
Genre | Soundtrack, Contemporary classical, Minimalist music | |||
Length | 67:15 | |||
Label | Argo | |||
Producer | Michael Nyman | |||
Michael Nyman chronology | ||||
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The score of the film was composed by Michael Nyman. It was primarily based upon his String Quartet No.3, with which Hampton created a temp track, and wanted as a leitmotif for Lytton Strachey. The score is also based on Schubert's String Quintet in C, D. 956, whose Adagio is played during a scene in the film. However, there is also newly composed material for the film, including "Virgin on the roof," which was incorporated into the String Quartet No. 4, and the theme for Mark Gertler, which is derived from 3 Quartets, which was composed at roughly the same time.
Critical reception
Review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes retroactively gave the film an approval rating of 52% based on 23 reviews, and an average rating of 6.2/10.
Awards
- 1995 Cannes Film Festival
- Jury Special Prize
- Best Actor for Jonathan Pryce
- 1995 National Board of Review
- Best Actress - Emma Thompson (with Sense and Sensibility)
- 1996 Evening Standard British Film Awards
- Best Actor - Jonathan Pryce