SXSW London 2026: Virginia Woolf’s Night and Day

Virginia Woolf’s Night and Day, with a cast rich in comedic talent, has moments of hysterical laughter alongside more introspective musings. Based on Woolf’s novel Night and Day, the story follows Katharine, played with tantalising nuance by Haley Bennett. Her passion for astronomy and education greatly frustrates her father, who wishes for her to marry her childhood friend, William. Despite its light-hearted façade, with talents like Jack Whitehall, Timothy Spall, Lily Allen and Sally Phillips delivering humour through awkward shenanigans and exaggerated reactions, Gharavi’s picture is a cyclical storm of hopelessness for its main protagonist. This constant loop of rejection and tragedy fuels Katharine’s resolve and drive for a better future for women in the scientific field.

The relationship dynamics displayed throughout the course of Virginia Woolf’s Night and Day are charming in a way that will easily draw the audience’s investment. William and Katharine are particularly endearing, with their scenes of understanding and platonic intimacy marking their strong connection. But the centrepiece has to be the father-daughter push and pull between Bennett’s Katharine and Spall’s Mr Hilbery. Their nuanced performances highlight the complexity of these deep and sincere familial bonds as they are tested against societal pressures. They exhibit frustration and anger due to their inability to understand each other, but there’s also love, care and affection in their interactions. The two brilliantly capture these contrasting emotions, elevating tension and showcasing the multifaceted nature of these parent-child dynamics. Bennett, especially, astounds as Katharine. Her eyes poignantly express devastation and her descent into disillusionment, juxtaposed beautifully with her fiery determination.

Music plays a big role in setting the tone of the feature, capturing both its playful energy and the despair in its heavier moments. A modern soundtrack featuring two songs by Celestine complements the space aesthetic, giving the film a futuristic edge despite its early-20^th-century dressing. Moreover, it speaks to Katharine’s character – a woman ahead of her time – and her monologue on the inevitability of women within education. This, paired with the cool-toned, high-contrast colour filter, works with the scenic glances into space, vividly capturing the intoxicating allure of the stars and the endless possibilities promised by the world beyond Earth. However, all these references to a more hopeful future are marred by discriminatory speeches that err on the side of cliché, resulting in a surface-level discussion of these subject matters.

Virginia Woolf’s Night and Day boasts a wonderful cast and striking audio and visuals. While its humour doesn’t always land and its treatment of misogyny, homophobia and discrimination could have gone further, it makes up for it with emotional depth and electric character dynamics. With impressive performances by Bennett, Whitehall and Spall, and an ever-resilient lead, one can’t help but fall for the charms of this story.