._3AGscX{display:none;}

Orlando

(526)1 h 33 min1993X-RayPG-13

Young nobleman Orlando is commanded by Queen Elizabeth I to stay forever young. Miraculously, he does just that. The film follows him as he moves through several centuries of British history, experiencing a variety of lives and relationships along the way, and even changing sex. Based on Virginia Woolf's highly acclaimed novel.

Directors: Sally Potter

Starring: Tilda Swinton Quentin Crisp Jimmy Somerville

Genres: Science Fiction Drama Arthouse

Subtitles: English [CC]

Audio languages: English

Playing the video isn't supported on this device/operating system version. Please update or watch on Kindle Fire, mobile devices, game consoles, or other compatible devices.

Watch for $0.00 with Prime

By ordering or viewing, you agree to our Terms. Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.

Write review

Details

More details

Supporting actors: John Bott Billy Zane Toby Jones Toby Stephens Simon Russell Bealemore…John Wood

Producers: Christopher Sheppard

Studio: Sony Pictures Classics

Rating: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)

Content advisory: Nudityviolencesexual contentdrug use

Purchase rights: Stream instantly Details

Format: Prime Video (streaming online video)

Devices: Available to watch on supported devices

Other formats

DVD
from $21.76

Blu-ray
from $11.75

Customer reviews

5 star		66%
4 star		14%
3 star		6%
2 star		4%
1 star		9%

How are ratings calculated?

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

"Same person. No difference at all. Just a different sex."

Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2016

Verified Purchase

I am shocked to realize that this film is nearly 25 years old. I saw this in the movies on the big screen in New York City when it came out in the early 1990s. I can't remember now if it was a limited engagement at a theatre like the Angelica back then, but I certainly don't think it was in a lot of theatres since it is a rather "off the beaten path" type of film.

Nonetheless, I don't know why I had never purchased this until now. It's such a creative, eccentric, artfully filmed work and makes me laugh every time I see it, despite some of the darker messages about the nature of war and gender equality (or lack thereof).

I'm not a big Virginia Woolf fan but, as the exception, I loved the book and this film, though some creative license needed to be taken to cover the 400 years of Orlando's story in a limited timeframe.

It opens with Orlando, played androgynously by Tilda Swinton, as a young man and in the throes of a young man's flights of fancy. Then, we meet Queen Elizabeth, played amazingly by Quentin Crisp (the writer). You see where this is going? The lines of gender demarcation have been blurred already.

As a man, Orlando is the heir to wealth, property, opportunity and reign over the opposite sex. When Orlando claims Princess Sasha as his, she asks, "But why?" To which Orlando replies, "Because I adore you." Male entitlement as seen from a male perspective.

Later, when Orlando is a woman and the Archduke Harry has his sights on her, he proclaims, "I am England. And you are mine." To which Orlando asks, "On what grounds?"

"That I adore you," he replies, to Orlando's offense. Male entitlement as seen from a female perspective.

Orlando's abrupt gender switching renders her "legally dead" and therefore, unable to hold any property, whatsoever. "Ah. Fine," she responds, as if it is nothing at all. To which the officials continue, "You are now a female. Which amounts to much the same thing."

Yes, the story is weird but it works. Why did Orlando change? We don't know. But that's not the point of this. This is a serious subject that is transformed by humor, the most beautiful, if at times, outlandish, costumes, and magnificent scenery. Tilda Swinton is particularly funny with delivering Orlando's reactions to various circumstances, even providing some little asides to give us a chuckle or some food for thought. And to throw in a redeeming, though flawed, male character, Billy Zane rides in on his high horse as Shelmerdine, the American freedom fighter who is always chasing the future.

This is an art film with lots of brilliant dialogue and lots of hidden gems you might get on the second or third viewings. Every time I watch this, I pick up more and more of the treasure chest of fine details and each viewing becomes richer and richer.

This film is not for everyone – I will concede that, but for those people who can appreciate all the beauty in the strange history of Orlando, this will keep delivering with each viewing.

Highly recommend.

79 people found this helpful

Helpful

Auntie'sBoy

Beautiful, Brilliant and Mysterious

Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2020

Verified Purchase

Not to be a snob, but this is not exactly one for the masses. But if you are a Masterpiece Theatre junkie and have a good feel for the last four hundred years of British culture and history you should have no problem following Orlando's adventures. However, one really must "read between the lines" in this gender-bending tale, as Sally Potter's mesmerizing storytelling and Tilda Swinton's epic performance in the title role will give one a clear map, but the viewer will be required to connect some of the signposts on their own. Not to say that it is purposefully opaque or "weird for the sake of being weird." But this film truly requires the viewer to be an active participant, but shares enough wit and opulence along the way to more than justify the extra effort.

12 people found this helpful

Helpful

Robert Hayes

Androgyny and immortality

Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2016

Verified Purchase

Movies about transgender people don't number that many (at least in mainstream cinema), and even less so the further back you go, so ORLANDO is somewhat unique by virtue of its very existence. Based on a Virginia Woolf novel (which I haven't yet read, but definitely want to), it tells the story of Orlando, an English nobleman blessed/cursed with immortality and who changes sex from male to female. Without going into spoiler territory (e.g., when and why Orlando changes), the film is largely concerned with social roles and expectations of men and women, unfairness in how women have been treated, etc. I thought it was rather interesting to for Orlando to be possessive of a woman he fancies early in the film, only to be on the receiving end of a similar proposal later on as a woman. And then there was my favorite scene where Orlando sits in on a discussion between several famous writers/poets (including Alexander Pope). All of the feminist discussion and thematic content alone makes this worth a watch, but there are a few minor quibbles to be had. The chief one is due to the main character's immortality. You get several sections in different time periods that show Orlando's progress, but it gives the film an episodic feel at times. I also wasn't terribly satisfied with the way it ended, although I'd be at a loss to posit an alternate ending without extending the running time further (and I thought it was a good length already). Suffice it to say, this is one of the best performances I've ever seen out of Tilda Swinton, although she was less convincing as a man than a woman (for obvious reasons). Still, her character isn't the only fun the film has with gender fluidity, as Queen Elizabeth is played by Quentin Crisp and there are a couple castrati who provide some diegetic music. Aside from the performances, the production design, sets, costumes, and score were all equally good. For more open-minded viewers, I can wholeheartedly recommend this. It will definitely affect the way you think about gender/gender roles.

22 people found this helpful

Helpful

Swirly Girl

all the actors do an excellent job, well directed and produced

Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2017

Verified Purchase

A young noble during the reign of Elizabeth I is favored by the queen who decrees his family estate should be his for himself and his heirs in perpetuity . She verbally adds the stipulation that he never get old, to which he agrees. Small problem: the estate is granted to Orlando the young man; but, along the line Orlando wakes up a woman and unless he/she has a child the estate is forfeit unless s/he has a male heir. The story follows Orlando's extended life from the time of Elizabeth I through WWII and marks the changes in society and in Orlando herself as she and society learn to cope with each other. This story has a perhaps unexpected (yet beautiful) ending since it does not end in the same way the book (by Virginia Woolf) does. Tilda Swinton and, indeed, all the actors do an excellent job, well directed and produced.

16 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English

Anne on Artemis

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 18, 2017

Verified Purchase

great

J.A.Hallbauer ;Doc Halliday

Mann oder Frau, egal. TILDA SWINTON !

Reviewed in Germany on December 12, 2015

Verified Purchase

"Orlando". eine Adaption des Romanes von Virginia Woolf von Sally Porter, Drehbuch und Regie sowie Mitarbeit an der Musik, ist ein phantastischer phantasticher Film, der hier in der ARTHAUS COLLECTION LITERATUR vorliegt, gedreht 1992 in St.Petersburg (wegen eines strengen englischen Winters 1600 mit zugefrorener Themse), Usbekistan mit Steppe und England.
Orlando (Tilda Swinton) ist ein junger Adeliger androgynen Aussehens, der im Jahre 1600 Favorit der greisen Elisabeth I. wird, wunderbar verkörpert durch die Ikone Quentin Crisp, zum Lohn wird ihm ewige Jugend und ein riesiges Anwesen gewährt, ein solches bildet auch eine reelle beeindruckende Kulisse.
Die ewige Jugend bleibt, Orlando erlebt Epochen der Geschichte bis in die heutige Zeit als Frau mit kleiner Tochter auf einem Motorrad, die zu ihrem verlorenen Besitz zurückkehrt, dieser zum Teil verhüllt wie eine Installation von Christo.
In insgesamt 7 Epochen, die Orlando unter anderem auch als Gesandter in Konstantinopel verbringt, wo er im Rahmen einer kriegerischen Auseinandersetzung vor Entsetzten in Tiefschlaf verfällt ("Der Verletzte ist kein Mann, sondern ein Feind!"), erlebt Orlando die Sitten, das Verhältnis zur Literatur, in der er sich auch betätigt, insbesondere aber auch die Stellung der Frau in Politik, Gesellschaft und Literatur, nach Erwachen aus dem Schlaf in Konstantinopel als Frau, die um das Erbe fürchten muss.
Der Film ist nicht nur phantastisch bezüglich Orlando, sondern auch durchaus humorvoll, zum Beispiel, wenn sich drei englische Schriftsteller gegenseitig "beharken". man hat seine Freude an zum Teil subtilen, aber auch fiesen Bemerkungen, von einer Dame der Gesellschaft gewürdigt.
Am Ende sitzt die Orlando malerisch wie zu Filmbeginn unter einem großen Baum in herrlicher Natur, das Mädchen spielt, Orlandos Blick verliert sich im Himmel.

Tod, Liebe, Poesie, Politik, Gesellschaft, Sex und Geburt sind die Themen der Episoden von Orlandos Zeitreise über 4 Jahrhunderte, endend im England der Jetztzeit. Den Roman von Virginia Woolf habe ich nicht gelesen, er wird als längster Liebesbrief der Schriftstellerin an die damals geliebte Vita Sackville-West bezeichnet, angeblich mit autobiographischen Bezügen. Er handelt vom Darstellen und Hinterfragen von Geschlechterrollen ("Dieselbe Person, kein Unterschied, nur im Geschlecht"), grandios gelungen: Einmal durch die Änderung des Geschlechts, welches die großartige Tilda Swinton mit ihrem oft androgyn wirkenden Äußeren, betont durch die Frisur und Kleidung, wie kaum eine zweite vermag, andererseits für mich auch durch die Bestzung der Queen mit Quentin Crisp, was ich als Augenzwinkern von Sally Porter werte, wie überhaupt der Film manch Szenen zum Schmunzeln bietet.
Grandios ist die Ausstattung: Das höfische Treiben auf Schlittschuhen auf der zugefrorenen (St.Petersburger) Themse, die Szenen am Hofe mit prächtigen angenehm warmen Farben, großartigen Kostümen. Ein Heckenlabyrinth, durch das sich Orlando mit zu den Seiten enorm weit ausgestelltem Kleid rasch, aber doch anmutig bewegt, eine vergleichbare Szene, in der sie sich mit fast tänzerisch wirkenden Drehungen und Wendungen durch engstehendes mit weißen Tüchern verhängtes Mobiliar in ihrem Anwesen schlängelt, eine Art Ballett mit bewegungslosen Mittänzern, das sind Szenen purer Schönheit, Ästhetik, verzaubernd.

Und wie sehr trifft das auf Tilda Swinton zu, für mich schon fast eine lebende Legende. Schon als Der Orlando wirkt sie zunehmend femininer, wenn sie die in einer Periode typischen weißhaarigen Männerperücken trägt, herrlich dann der Gegnsatz zu machen grotesken wie am Reißbrett entworfenen völlig unnatürlichen Exemplaren. Und als sie nach dem Wandel zur Frau sich erstmals unbekleidet vor einem Spiegel mit Blick auf den ganzen Körper sieht und wie oben erwähnt bis auf das Geschlecht dieselbe Person sieht, da kann von Androgynität weniger die Rede sein als bei manch sog. Super-Model.
Unabhängig davon ob man die Intention oder die Umsetzung der Woolfschen Vorlage für gelungen erachtet, den opulenten Bildern in ihrer Schönheit und Ästhetik kann man sich kaum entziehen, und jenseits von allem Lob oder Tadel: Tilda Swinton hat eine Ausstrahlung und vor allem ein Gesicht, in dem ich mich fast endlos verlieren kann. Vergleichbar fallen mir diesbezüglich ad hoc nur Nina Hoss, Sandra Hüller und Emanuelle Béart ein.

Man sollte versuchen, sich auf diesen symbolischen, phantastischen Film einzulassen. Wie es mir schon mit dem melancholischen Vampirfilm "Only Lovers Left Alive" ging, Tilda Swinton ist ein Leinwandereignis, das für mich jedes Risiko wert ist; naja, fast jedes, eigentlich nur das Geld für eine DVD.
Bei "Orlando" habe ich höchstens bereut, mir diesen wunderschönen Film nicht schon früher angesehen zu haben.

Doc Halliday

21 people found this helpful

Translate review to English

Marco

DVD danneggiato

Reviewed in Italy on January 13, 2019

Verified Purchase

Ho cercato ovunque questo film senza trovarlo in versione italiana, quando poi finalmente ho scoperto quest'unica edizione al momento disponibile nella mia lingua. Purtroppo però il DVD risultava danneggiato dietro: l'ho provato su tre computer diversi e con un lettore dvd per televisore ma non c'era niente da fare. Ho quindi fatto il reso facendomi cambiare il prodotto con un altro dvd sperando che stavolta questo non fosse rovinato, ma anche stavolta tre computer e il lettore dvd non sono riusciti a leggerlo. Dietro appare come nella foto... mandatemi una notifica quando magari tornerete a distribuire DVD non difettosi.

2 people found this helpful

Translate review to English

l'ivre libre

quel film curieux!

Reviewed in France on May 18, 2018

Verified Purchase

Il existe peu de films comme celui-ci, absolument inclassable par son originalité et son histoire. Le film est un peu long, mais esthétique et intéressant; il est remarquablement joué par Tilda Swinton, qui arrive, au fil de sa carrière, à se glisser dans la peau de personnages différents.
Très intéressants aussi: les regards vers la caméra, la façon dont c'est filmé ...On touche presque au baroque, par exemple la réception sur la glace avec l'ambassadeur de Russie, gracieuse Charlotte Valandrey. La musique, les décors, tout est beau; on est bien loin des films commerciaux d'aujourd'hui.
Le film est inspiré librement du livre éponyme de Virginia Woolf; malgré ça, il s'agit d'une vision toute personnelle, et c'est intéressant. (NB: Pour ceux qui s'(intéressent à Virginia Woolf, voir l'excellent film The hours.)
Si V.Woolf faisait preuve d'un certain humour, on le retrouve ici, par exemple la lecture des pages critiques sur l'œuvre poétique d'Orlando lui- même. Preuve encore de la construction intéressante du film.. Humour aussi quand Orlando se contemple devenu femme à un de ses réveils ..........La différence n'et pas notable: les hommes et les femmes se valent; s'ils veulent préserver leur indépendance et poursuivre leur ascension spirituelle, ils ne doivent pas se marier. On sent ici le féminisme et on devine la satire de Sally Potter vis à vis de la société britannique au cours des siècles passés, du moins...

2 people found this helpful

Translate review to English

Alessia Petra Silia Cervone

Buon prodotto

Reviewed in Italy on October 26, 2020

Verified Purchase

Poche stelle solo perché ho letto il libro...il film non è bello neanche la metà ma la Swinton è bellissima...la voce in italiano non saprei...non mi convince

Translate review to English

See all reviews

Get to Know Us

Make Money with Us

Amazon Payment Products

Let Us Help You

English United States

Top categories

Genres

Other categories

Top categories

Genres

Other categories

Orlando

Related

Details

Customers who watched this item also watched

More details

Other formats

Customer reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Top reviews from other countries