Sylvia (1985 film)

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Sylvia
Sylvia85poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Michael Firth
Written by Sylvia Ashton-Warner
F. Fairfax
Michael Firth
Michele Quill
Produced byMichael Firth
Don Reynolds
Starring Eleanor David
Nigel Terry
Tom Wilkinson
CinematographyIan Paul
Edited byMichael Horton
Music by Leonard Rosenman
Production
companies
Cinepro/Pillsbury Films
Southern Light Films
Distributed by MGM/UA
Release date
  • 1985 (1985)
Running time
95 minutes
CountryNew Zealand
LanguageEnglish

Sylvia is a 1985 biographical film about New Zealand educator Sylvia Ashton-Warner, inspired by two of her books. [1] [2] [3] The film was directed and co-written by New Zealander Michael Firth, and stars British actor Eleanor David as Ashton-Warner, alongside Tom Wilkinson, Nigel Terry and Mary Regan. [4]

The Village Voice critic Andrew Sarris rated Sylvia one of the ten best films of 1985. [4] It also won praise from Vogue.

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References

  1. Martin, Helen; Edwards, Sam (1997). New Zealand film, 1912–1996. Trove . Auckland ; Melbourne ; Oxford :Oxford University Press. ISBN   0-19-558336-1.
  2. Ashton-Warner, Sylvia (1963). Teacher. Bantam Books. ISBN   9780553129885. OL   7818083M.
  3. Ashton-Warner, Sylvia (1979). I Passed this Way. London: Virago. ISBN   0860681602. OL   16473982M.
  4. 1 2 "Sylvia". NZ On Screen . New Zealand Film Commission. 1985. Retrieved 7 March 2023.