The Rainbow

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The Rainbow

R,

1989,

1h 52m,

Drama/

LGBTQ+

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63%

8 Reviews

Tomatometer

57%

250+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

63%

Tomatometer

8 Reviews

57%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Born to a rich landowner in the waning days of the Victorian era, Ursula Brangwen (Sammi Davis) grows into a beautiful young woman full of imagination and ambition. The free-spirited Ursula begins to feel trapped by her prim surroundings, but her life changes when she has an erotic experience with Winifred (Amanda Donohoe), a bisexual teacher. From then on, Ursula puts all of her passion and creativity into the pursuit of sexual fulfillment. But her insatiable quest becomes a source of anguish.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

Sep 12, 2023

Russell, notorious for overheating most of his pictures, has left the heat out of this one. He seems to be trying to serve the novel without recognizing what a blazing vision it is, how it stirs a reader. And he seems to have run out of bravura.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Jul 6, 2010

Davis, who came to the fore as the man-hungry teenager in Hope and Glory, throws herself into Ursula with all the physical and emotional energy she can muster. Donohoe is absolutely on the money as the liberated Winifred.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Jan 1, 2000

3/4

In The Rainbow [Russell] has made a measured, thoughtful literary adaptation. He obviously believes Lawrence's message is as appropriate now as it was then, and, of course, he is right.

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Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Oct 17, 2014

4.5/5

A very good, visually stunning film with undeniable flashes of genius. Looked at as a series of scenes it's perhaps as good as anything he ever made.

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Feb 27, 2014

C+

Over-simplified, lackluster and cliche-ridden coming-of-age romantic drama that's based on the 1915 novel by D. H. Lawrence.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Jul 24, 2005

2/5

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Poe S

Jan 5, 2018

I wasn't expecting this to be such an excellent movie! Perhaps it's bogged down by Ken Russell being the director but only in the sense that people's expectations seem to be kinda all over the map. It's definitely more Merchant/Ivory than Lisztomania, but honestly so is Women In Love so I'm a little confused as to why people would be let down by him doing another DH Lawrence relatively straight? It's shot rather beautifully, with plenty of Russell moments both in the camera work and the set design. Makes me wonder if what people are really grumbling about is the focus of the plot, in which case I say: fie! This is such a glorious feminist film. A woman who, gasp, dares to think there's more in life for her than just settling for a man who loves her but expects her to still conform to the barefoot wife at home once she's married. Ursula is a complex and layered character, with an innocence and idealism that all at once drives her to accept new experiences and never settle for the bad ones. Ignoring the semi-abrupt actual last minute of the film, I really appreciated the end of the film which, while sad in some ways, shows that her spirit truly is more important than anything else - it's the type of ending women simply are never granted!! Men do it all the damn time - self sacrificing for the greater good while the director nods in approval - so while not the most original or satisfying ending, it was just so refreshing to see it happen here with Ursula. Ken Russell does it again, king of filmmaking. Also bonus lol seeing Dr Who naked, Downton Abbey's Mr Carson beating children and David Hemmings looking like a much-older-than-he-was-but-still-dignified senior citizen. Also just Glenda Jackson always forever.

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Ken Russell

Director

Sammi Davis

Ursula Brangwen

Paul McGann

Anton Skrebensky

Amanda Donohoe

Winifred Inger

Christopher Gable

Will Brangwen

David Hemmings

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Synopsis

Born to a rich landowner in the waning days of the Victorian era, Ursula Brangwen (Sammi Davis) grows into a beautiful young woman full of imagination and ambition. The free-spirited Ursula begins to feel trapped by her prim surroundings, but her life changes when she has an erotic experience with Winifred (Amanda Donohoe), a bisexual teacher. From then on, Ursula puts all of her passion and creativity into the pursuit of sexual fulfillment. But her insatiable quest becomes a source of anguish.

Director: Ken Russell
Producer: Ken Russell
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $22.2K
Runtime: 1h 52m
Sound Mix: Surround

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