Women in Love

This two-part, made-for-TV 2011 BBC production based on the D.H. Lawrence novel about the lives and loves of two sisters—Gudrun, an artist, and Ursula, a teacher—inevitably invites comparison to the memorable 1969 Ken Russell film that included a groundbreaking nude male wrestling scene between Alan Bates and Oliver Reed, as well as Glenda Jackson's Oscar-winning performance as Gudrun. The notorious grappling sequence is retained here, albeit in a more modest interpretation, while Rosamund Pike's Gudrun is somewhat more glamorous but less intense than Jackson's. Still, this is a handsome production that is mostly faithful to the original text (a location shift from wintry Europe to sunny South Africa being a major exception, although the gorgeous cinematography compensates for this curious transplantation). Joining Pike is a fine ensemble that includes Rachael Stirling as Ursula; Rory Kinnear as Rupert, a school supervisor who is involved with Ursula; and Joseph Mawle as Gerald, the industrialist who becomes Gudrun's lover. The problem with this version of Women in Love (which also incorporates parts of Lawrence's earlier book, The Rainbow) is that it may be a little too genteel. Yes, Russell's flamboyant direction took Lawrence's work too far to the other extreme, but he was ultimately closer in spirit to the original. Under Miranda Bowen's competent but tame direction of William Ivory's teleplay, Women in Love here comes across as Lawrence-lite—tasteful and respectable, but missing real punch. Still, this should be considered a strong optional purchase. (P. Hall)