Search - Orlando on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Questionable for Children Movie Release: 1992 DVD Release: 08/03/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English, Spanish Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 33 mins Studio: Columbia TriStar Members Wishing: 19 Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Period Film, Feminist Film

Independent filmmaker Sally Potter's gender-bending epic, which views four centuries of sexual politics through the eyes of a sex-switching main character, is based on the 1928 novel by Virginia Woolf. The androgynous title character is played with delicate quietude by Tilda Swinton. The story begins during the reign of the aging Queen Elizabeth I (Quentin Crisp, in a droll turn recalling his The Naked Civil Servant). Queen Elizabeth takes a shine to the attractive young Orlando and seeks out his sexual favors. In return, Elizabeth grants him a large estate, commanding him, "Do not fade, do not wither, do not grow old." Orlando takes the queen at her word and doesn't. When Elizabeth dies, Orlando becomes attracted to Sasha (Charlotte Valandrey), the daughter of a Russian diplomat, but she rebuffs his advances. Crushed, Orlando accepts an ambassadorship to Constantinople. After witnessing the killing of a man in battle, Orlando undergoes a change of sex, becoming a woman and returning to England, where she hobnobs with 18th-century geniuses like Jonathan Swift, Alexander Pope, and John Addison. Walking through a garden labyrinth, the time frame shifts to the 19th century, and Orlando falls in love with a handsome American (Billy Zane). Now in the 20th century, Orlando gives birth to his child and continues on. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Tilda Swinton - Orlando
Billy Zane - Shelmerdine
Lothaire Bluteau - The Khan
John Wood - Archduke Harry
Charlotte Valandrey - Sasha

Tilda Swinton takes the title role in this memorable take on Virginia Woolf's gender-bending novel, arriving on DVD courtesy of Columbia /TriStar Video. Presented in the original 1.85:1 widescreen aspect ratio and featuring an English Dolby Digital Stereo soundtrack, this release also offers an alternate Spanish Dolby Digital Mono track in addition to optional English, Spanish, and French subtitles. Extra features include production notes, talent files, and theatrical trailers. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide