English director Sally Potter made her first 8mm at the age of fourteen and has since written and directed seven feature-length and numerous short films, a television series and live work including for opera. She gained the attention of a wide audience in 1992 with Orlando, a loose adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s novel of the same name. Her other films include The Tango Lesson (1996), The Man Who Cried (2000), Yes (2004), Rage (2009), Ginger and Rosa (2012), The Party (2017) and The Roads Not Taken (2020).
Shortly before the death of Elizabeth I of England in 1603, the queen promises land, wealth and a castle to an androgynous young nobleman named Orlando—but only if he obeys her command: “Do not fade. Do not wither. Do not grow old.” Over the next four centuries, Orlando lives a most bizarre existence during which he becomes ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, lives through the many wars of Europe, mysteriously changes gender, faces court battles and bad luck in love, attempts to become a poet, eventually finds success in writing, and raises a daughter.
Director Sally Potter
Producer Christopher Sheppard
Screenwriter Sally Potter, based on the novel by / d’après le roman de Virginia Woolf
Cinematographer Alexey Rodionov
Production Designer Jan Roelfs
Editor Hervé Schneid
Sound Kant Pan
Music David Motion, Sally Potter
Production Company PAdventure Studios, Lenfilm Studio, Mikado Film