Marleen Gorris, internationally acclaimed for Antonia’s Line, chose to make a screen adaptation of the Virginia Woolf novel Mrs. Dalloway for her latest project. The strong characters and feminist issues present in the story in combination with the participation and collaboration of actress Vanessa Redgrave captured the director’s interest.
 The film introduces Mrs. Clarissa Dalloway as she spends an entire day preparing for a party and Septimus, who refuses to be imprisoned in a mental institution and eventually commits suicide by jumping out of a window. Without employing an overly dramatic plot, Mrs. Dalloway meticulously explores the actions and psychology of the protagonists over the course of a single day. Clarissa, a middle-aged woman, seems to be enjoying a happy family life as the wife of a politician and the perfect homemaker. However, her reunion with Peter after 30 years prompts her to rethink her life-changing decision and contemplate the path that she refused to take and her feelings of loss after she made her choice. Though never seeming to cross paths until the film’send, when Clarissa hears about Septimus’ suicide, their connection reminds us that life is not as simple as it may seem. The cast’s performance, especially Vanessa Redgrave’s emotional portrayal, is magnificent. (Lim Sung-min)