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Amazon.co.uk Review
Screenwriter Andrew Davies describes Tipping the Velvet, his adaptation of Sarah Waters's acclaimed novel of lesbian love, betrayal and redemption in Victorian England, as "Pride and Prejudice with dirty bits". This three-part BBC production chronicles with relish the story of Nan Astley (Rachael Stirling, the ravishing image of her mother, Diana Rigg), barely 18, and certain that life holds more for her than her oyster girl's existence. "You'll meet someone who'll have your head spinning and your legs turning to jelly", her sister promises. That someone surprisingly turns out to be "gay and bold" Kitty Butler (Keeley Hawes), a music-hall entertainer with whom Nan falls instantly, and swooningly, in love. Nan follows her to London, where, as a double act, they become the toast of London, until Kitty's "marriage of convenience" breaks up the act and Nan's heart. The outcast Nan, decked out in Victor/Victoria duds, becomes a streetwalker, and then "tart" to the aptly named Diana Leatherby (Anna Chancellor). This affair, too, comes to "a bad end" as a destitute Nan is deposited back on the streets, where she insinuates herself into the lives of Florence (Jodhi May), a social worker, and her socialist brother.
Is Nan "too spoiled and stained for love"? Will she risk her blossoming relationship with Florence when Kitty inevitably returns to rekindle their affair? Nan's couplings, while tastefully done, do carry what Waters calls "a queer erotic charge". They are graphic by BBC standards. But the sterling writing and performances will captivate even the most sensitive viewers, making this groundbreaking mini-series, to quote one character, "a delightful evening... a rare treat". --Donald Liebenson
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (2.35:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Cast/Crew Interview(s), Interactive Menu, Photo Gallery, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: This adaptation of Sarah Waters popular novel follows Nan Astley (Rachael Stirling) as she blossoms into womanhood and explores her sexuality, ostensibly forbidden in Victorian society. Nan seems destined for marriage to a nice, but dull, suitor in her seaside, English town. However, a trip to the theater changes everything when she falls in love at first sight with the ravishing Kitty Butler (Keeley Hawes), a gorgeous woman who makes a living posing as a young boy and singing in a vaudeville-style cabaret--even to the extent of cutting her hair short. Though at first unable to identify her feelings, Nan simply cannot get enough of Kitty, and soon begins to spend every available second with her. As the two grow closer, Kitty invites Nan to accompany her to London. Against her family's wishes, the two move, and Nan eventually joins the show as another gender-bending performer. However, while Nan feels only blissful love for Kitty, Kitty cannot accept the fact of their relationship, and soon begins an affair with a man. Her relationship over, devastated Nan has no career and no love. Using the boyish costumes from her show, Nan begins to prostitute herself to men who are looking for teenage boys. From there, her life spins in wild directions, as she resolves her sexuality, becomes a concubine for an abusive wealthy woman, again ascends to stardom, and finds true love.
SCREENED/AWARDED AT: BAFTA Awards, ...Tipping the Velvet
SCREENED/AWARDED AT: BAFTA Awards, ...Tipping the Velvet
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
70 of 72 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Original, engaging and beautiful - and lots of fun!,
By deepbluesky (London, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Tipping the Velvet : The Complete BBC Series [2002] [DVD] (DVD)
An absolute delight, with excellent acting and great production values. Rachael Stirling is utterly endearing and hard to forget, Keeley Hawes is simply delicious, and the rest of the cast are equally good. As a love story, Tipping the Velvet works perfectly - the romantic buildup and sex scenes are gorgeous and entirely believable, especially for a gay or lesbian audience. But there is so much more to be enjoyed - the vivid evocation of provincial music halls and oyster parlours, Kentish seaside and family life, and the world of Victorian London, with all its quirky contradictions and seamy undercurrents. There is also a wonderful depth of characterisation, and an avoidance of cliche, which is perhaps best illustrated by Sarah Waters' own subtle gender politics: the male characters are benign, often kind, and never vilified, while the real wielders of emotional power and pain are the lesbian characters themselves. There's a great deal here to discuss, if you ever happen to tire of gazing happily at the screen. Buy it, you won't regret it!
36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Accomplished and daring adaptation,
By
This review is from: Tipping the Velvet : The Complete BBC Series [2002] [DVD] (DVD)
I was sceptical when this first aired - the subject matter seemed too risque for mainstream TV to do anything other than skirt nervously around, the marketing too slanted towards a voyeuristic male audience. Two years on, I rented the DVD and was more than pleasantly surprised. Andrews Davies' screenplay is excellent, sticking close to the novel while judiciously trimming the plot down to essentials. Together with some clever direction and editing, it intelligently explores the novel's interlinked themes of performance, display, gender and identity. The sound and visual effects of the music hall pursue Nan throughout her journey from innocence to experience. Drumrolls, cymbal clashes and fade-to-black 'spotlights' accompany pivotal moments in her life. A recurring motif of dressing in front of mirrors subtly underlines how Nan variously expresses, hides and reinvents herself - sexually, physically, emotionally - as she moves from oyster girl to male impersonator to kept woman to socialist campaigner. At times, the series comes into its own beautifully, as with the intercut sequence of Nan and Kitty rehearsing their act together. Surprisingly, too, none of the novel's bawdiness is lost - Nan's story is here in all its joys, pains and dildos - but again the production proves itself worthy. The sex scenes are explicit - but rather than just providing titillation, they always further the themes and character development. The acting is a little uneven - certain cast members play it straighter than others (excuse the pun) - but the leads all do well with the material. Florence is less forthright and assured than in the book, but Jodhi May gives her grace and sweetness enough to make us root for her at the end. The only problem - to this reviewer - lies in Kitty, Nan's first love. The script misses a trick when it skips the novel's pivotal moment for her character (her crisis after a performance is interrupted by hecklers accusing the pair of being lesbians). Where she could have presented yet another facet of the theme of appearance and identity - her rushed, concealing marriage prompted by paranoia that exposure as a lesbian will blight her career and cost her the public adulation she craves - instead she emerges simply as a cliched, confused bisexual, unable to choose between Nan and Walter until it is too late. On the whole, though, this is an brave and admirable adaptation that captures the essence of the novel and is highly entertaining in its own right.
26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tipping the Velvet,
By Seamas Honohan (Cheshire, CT USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Tipping the Velvet : The Complete BBC Series [2002] [DVD] (DVD)
I watched this movie to see Keeley Hawes, who I thought was fantastic as Lizzy Hexam in Our Mutual friend, but I discovered Rachel Stirling! As an innocent girl on her journey of life, love and self awareness, she is at once beautiful, innocent and completely believable in this lovely, wonderfully acted story which, though classified as a lesbian film, goes way beyond mere sexuality and gender. As usual, British filmmakers get it right with their casting, as even the smaller characters just fit. You'll recognize familiar faces, but you'll not be able to keep your eyes or heart off Stirling. Go get this movie; you will have a new perspective on love, friendship and , well, maybe life in general.
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