In a pre-credit sequence Effie Gray is seen walking through a garden speaking about a fairy story in which a girl married a man with wicked parents. After the credits, the marriage of Effie to John Ruskin in Perth, Scotland is seen. The couple travel to London to stay with his parents. Effie soon begins to feel isolated, especially as she is repeatedly belittled by John’s mother. Her distress is compounded by the fact that her husband shows no interest in consummating the marriage and refuses to discuss the subject.
At the Royal Academy of Arts, John and Effie attend a dinner at which there is heated debate about the new Pre-Raphaelite movement in art, which John supports. John convinces Sir Charles Eastlake, the president of the academy, to allow the young artists to exhibit their pictures. Effie attracts the attention of Sir Charles’ wife, Elizabeth. When the Eastlakes visit the Ruskins, Elizabeth sees how distressed Effie is in the repressive atmosphere of the Ruskin family.
Effie hopes that matters will improve when they travel to Venice, where John will be researching his new book The Stones of Venice. But when they get there, John busies himself studying the many historic monuments of the city, leaving Effie in the company of Rafael, a young Italian. Effie enjoys the city life, but is distressed when Rafael tries to seduce her. Her husband seems oblivious to the situation.
Effie Gray is a British biographical drama film directed by Richard Laxton. Its subject is the love triangle involving Victorian art critic John Ruskin (played by Greg Wise) his wife Euphemia “Effie” Gray (Dakota Fanning) and Pre-Raphaelite artist John Everett Millais (Tom Sturridge). Emma Thompson also appears in the film as Elizabeth Eastlake.
Effie Gray
Directed by: Richard Laxton
Starring: Dakota Fanning, Greg Wise, Tom Sturridge, Polly Dartford, Sam Churchill, Alex Best, Patrick Doyle, Fawn James
Screenplay by: Emma Thompson
Production Design by: James Merifield
Cinematography by: Andrew Dunn
Film Editing: Kate Williams
Costume Design by: Ruth Myers
Set Decoration by: Sara Wan
Music by: Paul Cantelon
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for thematic and sexual content, and some nudity.
Studio: Adopt Films
Release Date: April 3, 2015
Visits: 101
