Rent Women in Love (1969)

Minor Masterpiece - Women in Love review by GI

Hugely controversial when originally released this is a tragic romance story adapted from the novel by D.H. Lawrence. Set in the 1920s mainly in the industrial Midlands shot as a contrast between the beauty of the natural landscape and the "dark, satanic mills" of the coal mines with images reminiscent of Lowry. Alan Bates and Oliver Reed play Rupert and Gerald, they are best friends, the former a bohemian teacher in love with his colleague Ursula (Jennie Linden), and the latter a rich mine owner in love with Ursula's sister, Gudrun (Glenda Jackson). The sisters resist the social expectations that they see women falling into, namely marriage, housewife and motherhood and dream of true love. Rupert and Gerald seek ultimate satisfaction from love that involves sex, dedication and contentment. The couples begin tempestuous relationships climaxing in a holiday to the Swiss Alps where tragedy strikes. This marks director Ken Russell's first foray into a style of film making that set him as having a unique eye and his ability to display images that were often very challenging. This film has probably one of the most famous homo-erotic scenes in any film and the sex scenes are graphic for their time. Ultimately this is a beautiful film, a landmark British film and its realistic depiction of the times whilst telling a story of tortured love marks it as a minor masterpiece. This is a must see film and definitely one to seek out if you've never seen it.