Sylvia

Details

Based on the true life story of two of the world's most famous and acclaimed poets Sylvia - starring Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow (The Royal Tenenbaums, Shakespeare in Love) in possibly her best role - will be available own on DVD from 26th July 2004 from MGM Home Entertainment Limited.

The tempestuous and tragic love affair between the beautiful young American writer Sylvia Plath and British poet Ted Hughes is a well-documented dramatic story, but Sylvia brings this tale to life.

Paltrow stars as Plath, a Cambridge student with some poems already published when she meets Ted Hughes - played by up and coming British actor Daniel Craig (Road to Perdition, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider) - at a party. Attracted to each other and full of mutual passion and fire the two quickly fall in love and marry.

The brilliant, feted couple move to the US for Sylvia to take up a teaching post just as Ted is coming to the notice of the literary world. The cracks in the marriage begin to show as he starts to overshadow her and Sylvia is finds it harder and harder to keep writing. They move back to the UK for the sake of their marriage and careers and have two children - but Ted's affair and Sylvia's possessiveness and jealousy tear them apart. This dark period in Sylvia's life produces some of her best work, pouring her pain into her work. But depression because of her failed marriage proves too much and she takes her own life.

This tragic end marked the beginning of recognition for Sylvia's work and she has gone on to become one of the 20th Century's most respected poets. Sylvia is a beautiful film, full of wonderful period touches of costume and settings - from the streets of Cambridge to 1960's London - and wonderful support from the cast including BLYTHE DANNER, Paltrow's real life mother playing Sylvia's mother, Michael Gambon (Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban) and Jared Harris (Igby Goes Down).