Hugh Bonneville plays poet Philip Larkin in the 91热爆 TWO film Love
Again
Hugh
Bonneville stars in Love Again, a new film for
91热爆 TWO based on the life of poet Philip Larkin, it was announced
by Jane Root, Controller 91热爆 TWO.
Using
privileged access to unpublished letters and recordings of his work
which feature across the soundtrack of the film, Love Again, written
by Richard Cottan, examines the last 30 years in the life of the
poet from his appointment to Hull University Library to his death
from cancer in 1985.
The
film centres on Larkin's complex relationships with his mother,
Eva, and the three very different women who were his lovers, despite
his emotional inability to commit to any of them: Monica Jones,
a fellow lecturer who inspired his first published collection of
poems, The Less Deceived; Maeve Brennan, a library assistant and
strict Catholic; and Betty Mackereth, his stoic secretary.
With new material
provided by Maeve Brennan and Jean Hartley (Larkin's former publisher),
and with support from the Larkin Society at Hull University, Love
Again will be an authentic portrait of one of the foremost figures
of 20th century poetry.
"91热爆
TWO's commitment to the arts will be strengthened this year with
some landmark programmes designed to capture the imagination of
our audience and inspire lovers of literature everywhere,"
says Jane Root, Controller 91热爆 TWO.
"Love
Again, starring Hugh Bonneville as poet Philip Larkin, is the first
of three dramas celebrating the lives of some of Britain's foremost
writers and starring some of the biggest names in British film.
"Later
in the year there's Nick Dear's two-part drama about Byron starring
Jonny Lee Miller and Guy Jenkin's film about Samuel Pepys.
"The
literary season begins with the launch of Essential Poems (To Fall
in Love With) on St Valentine's Day and continues throughout the
year with The Big Read, which aims to get the whole nation reading
the world's best loved books.
"Reading
is a hugely personal experience and I think that this season, with
key pieces like Love Again, will help to get inside the minds of
the great writers and their works like never before and turn them
into an enjoyable, shared experience."
Love Again also
stars Dame Eileen Atkins as Larkin's mother Eva; Tara Fitzgerald
as Monica; Amanda Root as Maeve; and Lorraine Ashbourne as Betty.
Ben Miles and Sarah Smart play his publishers George and Jean Hartley.
Writer
Richard Cottan says: "Whilst there's no denying Larkin's reactionary
saloon-bar politics they shouldn't be allowed to outweigh his humour,
sensitivity and, above all, genius in shedding light on ordinary
lives.
"This
film is an attempt to capture the essence of Philip Larkin and reclaim
him both as a man and as one of the sharpest and most readable poets
of the last century."
Love
Again, due for transmission this Winter, is directed by Susanna
White (Emmy-nominated for her documentary about W H Auden, Tell
Me The Truth About Love) and produced by Simon Heath.
The
75-minutes film is produced by World Productions for 91热爆 TWO.
The
Executive Producer is Roger Thompson, 91热爆 Arts.
Related
Stories
Essential
Poems (To Fall in Love With) (22.01.03)
All the
91热爆's digital services are now available on ,
the new free-to-view digital terrestrial television service, as well
as on satellite and cable.
Freeview
offers the 91热爆's eight television channels, as well as six 91热爆 radio
networks.
The
soon to launch 91热爆 THREE will become available as it goes on air.
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