Women in Love

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Women in Love

R

1970

2h 10m

Romance

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

23 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Close friends Rupert Birkin and Gerald Crich begin romances with siblings Ursula and Gudrun Brangwen. After the couples wed, they take a joint honeymoon to Switzerland, where things begin happily -- but they become increasingly complicated as the trip continues. Rupert and Ursula are determined to stay faithful to one another, while the aloof Gerald and the eccentric Gudrun turn to infidelity and sexual exploration.

Critics Consensus

A quartet of nuanced performances and Ken Russell's off-kilter direction brings D.H. Lawrence's battle of the sexes to tactile life.

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

06/11/2019

Despite a growing portentousness towards the end, and moments of silliness scattered throughout, a surprisingly restrained, even respectful adaptation of DH Lawrence's novel.

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Variety Staff

Variety

06/11/2019

Directed with style and punch by Ken Russell, this is an episodic but challenging and holding pic.

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Melissa Anderson

Artforum

08/14/2018

Yet it is to the film's great credit that, in depicting that "puritanical insistence," heterosexuality is revealed to be the most unnatural form of coupling.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

08/30/2021

3/4

The story occasionally grows choppy and diffuse, yet the visual splendors never fail to take command.

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Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

08/25/2020

4/5

A sterling confluence of three distinct icons, Women in Love is a key masterpiece of 1970s era British cinema, and one which has outlasted its infamous bits to reveal a decadent, lush, study on the amorphous subjects of love and sexuality.

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Paul Schrader

Cinema

06/30/2020

The most successful adaptation of a Lawrence novel to the screen.

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Clinton R

@CWRoss48 Dec 12

"Will you take us home, please." Masterful scene of comparisons.

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Rosie L

@RT82763749 07/22/2025

I first saw Russell's films when they came out and they all had a profound impact on me, especially Women in Love. Terrific, energetic performances all round in a well-nigh perfect adaptation of a great novel. It stands up to repeated re watching and I think it's Russell's masterpiece, beautifully shot, engrossing and emotional with some terrific set scenes.

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S R

@ScottR 04/01/2025

Taking on DH Lawrence's book was of interest, but the artsy side of things made it a chore to get through. I did enjoy the whole Switzerland part and even the English bits. However, the odd music interludes and monologues put me off. I saw it since it was on the NYT 1000 movies list. SLC DVD.

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Alec B

@Alec97 01/05/2024

Bates, Linden, Reed, and Jackson are all superb. Russel's willingness to push the sexual content to a near frenzy gives the film a wild and unpredictable energy that is endlessly rewarding.

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Mat L

@RT32121343 10/04/2023

Alan Bates is unforgettable in this classic masterpiece.

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Leaburn O

@RT35452347 08/29/2023

I can't think of anything to praise about this bore fest. Made it onto the BFI Top 100 and contains one of the gayest scenes ever put to film. The rest of the picture is just rambling boring nonsense. Stunningly boring.

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Ken Russell

Director

Alan Bates

Rupert Birkin

Glenda Jackson

Gudrun Brangwen

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Synopsis

Close friends Rupert Birkin and Gerald Crich begin romances with siblings Ursula and Gudrun Brangwen. After the couples wed, they take a joint honeymoon to Switzerland, where things begin happily -- but they become increasingly complicated as the trip continues. Rupert and Ursula are determined to stay faithful to one another, while the aloof Gerald and the eccentric Gudrun turn to infidelity and sexual exploration.

Director: Ken Russell
Producer: Larry Kramer
Screenwriter: Larry Kramer, D.H. Lawrence
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: Brandywine Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Romance, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 25, 1970, Wide
Release Date (DVD): Mar 4, 2003
Runtime: 2h 10m
Sound Mix: Mono