The intersection of technology and culture may be the main focus of SXSW London, but that’s not to say there isn’t room for a splash of old fashioned period rom-com in the lineup.
On the first day of the Austin spinoff’s second edition in London, “Virginia Woolf’s Night and Day” served as the opening night curtain raiser of the film strand, with the cast and crew in attendance for the well-received world premiere at the Barbican Centre.
Among those on the red carpet and on stage before and after the special screening were stars Haley Bennett, Jack Whitehall and Timothy Spall, plus producer and writer Justine Waddell and director Tina Ghavari.
Set in 1910 and based on Woolf’s novel, “Virginia Woolf’s Night and Day” follows eager astronomer Katharine (Bennett), doing everything she can to avoid love and marriage to focus on her two passions: the stars and Cambridge University. However, when her controlling father (Spall) tries to push her away from her scientific pursuits and into marriage with old family friend William (Whitehall), the headstrong young woman stands up to expectations forced on her by getting involved in the Suffragette movement, spearheaded by the inspirational, straight-talking Mary (Lily Allen).
