Orlando: A Biography: Film Screenplay

by Sally Potter, Virginia Woolf

Orlando, the film, has won more than 20 international awards. While addressing contemporary concerns about gender and identity, the screenplay adapts the original story to give it a striking cinematic form.

Genres: Film, Picture Books, Historical, Classics, Biography, Autobiography

96 pages, Paperback

First published April 5, 1994

About the author

Sally Potter is an English film director and screenwriter.

Reviews

[Ksenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading screenplays and Sally Potter’s Orlando is a great one to have on hand. This edition comes with a wonderful introduction that provides invaluable insight into how to treat and adjust original work you are adapting, while neither disrespecting the book, nor sacrificing necessary changes required for its cinematic interpretation. Plus, Sally’s very sweet and moving reflections on the entire process. Breathtakingly ambitious experimental cinema; hard to imagine such scope these days. Would be a fun enterprise to re-read it alongside Woolf’s novel in the future and to go over them both scene by scene.

[Meaghen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw the film yesterday and read the screenplay today - wonderful film, and really interesting to read about Sally Potter's process in adapting the novel. For me, the novel is still a more lush, fully immersive experience, but the film is gorgeous, rich, and Tilda Swinton's acting is wonderful. It was fascinating to read all the details on the page comparing them to how they are played out in the film - particularly the system of asides/addresses to the camera that help to draw the viewer in.

This also made me think about how surely one of the strengths of Woolf's writing is that strong personal connection she makes with the viewer - beautiful to literally see this in the film and its script.

[vanya klecherova · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked it! In fact, just this movie has provoked me to find the Virginia Woolf's book. In my opinion, there cannot be made a better film (than this one) that can represents the whole ideas of Virginia Woolf's writings in so clearly manner. I'm greatly impressed :-) and hope that the book will not disappoint me too. Virginia Woolf is one of my favourite authors :-)

[Will]

still working on it

[P. Grunden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, I didn't actually read this book, but I did love the movie.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

a parody of a biography, in part; lighthearted and yet as rich as any woolf. love the genderqueering!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly enjoyable. I might even see the film sometime. Potter does a good job of justifying how her version of Woolf's book needs to a different interpretation for the screen.

[Auntie Grizelda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a quick read. The writing just flows. Hard to put down. Well written.