Sylvia (1985 film)

Sylvia
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMichael Firth
Written bySylvia Ashton-Warner
F. Fairfax
Michael Firth
Michele Quill
Produced byMichael Firth
Don Reynolds
StarringEleanor David
Nigel Terry
Tom Wilkinson
CinematographyIan Paul
Edited byMichael Horton
Music byLeonard Rosenman
Production
companies
Cinepro/Pillsbury Films
Southern Light Films
Distributed byMGM/UA
Release date
  • 1985 (1985)
Running time
95 minutes
CountryNew Zealand
LanguageEnglish

Sylvia is a 1985 biographical film about New Zealand educator Sylvia Ashton-Warner, inspired by two of her books.[1][2][3] The film was directed and co-written by New Zealander Michael Firth, and stars British actor Eleanor David as Ashton-Warner, alongside Tom Wilkinson, Nigel Terry and Mary Regan.[4]

The Village Voice critic Andrew Sarris rated Sylvia one of the ten best films of 1985.[4] It also won praise from Vogue.

  1. ^ Martin, Helen; Edwards, Sam (1997). New Zealand film, 1912–1996. Auckland ; Melbourne ; Oxford :Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-558336-1. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  2. ^ Ashton-Warner, Sylvia (1963). Teacher. Bantam Books. ISBN 9780553129885. OL 7818083M.
  3. ^ Ashton-Warner, Sylvia (1979). I Passed this Way. London: Virago. ISBN 0860681602. OL 16473982M.
  4. ^ a b "Sylvia". NZ On Screen. New Zealand Film Commission. 1985. Retrieved 7 March 2023.