The Stages of the Film
What is the time line of the film? There where so many years to take in to account I forgot some.
share1600: Death
1610: Love
1650: Poetry
1700: Politics
1750: Society
1850: Sex
Birth
"Birth" doesn't have a given date, but pretty much incorporates the twentieth century.
At the funeral of Orlando's father, the Queen's death (in 1603) is referred to as if it happened very recently; this scene probably happens in 1603 or 1604, and closes the "Death" section. The second half of "Politics", in which Orlando first encounters Harry, takes place after he has spent ten years in Central Asia, i.e. in 1710 or possibly 1711 (since it would have taken several months to get there in the first place).
____________________________
"An inglorious peace is better than a dishonourable war" ~ John Adams
When Orlando runs through the battlefield pregnant, are we to assume that this the First or the Second World War? (Assuming it is either one at all)
I was a little confused by the ambiguity of the final scene (in terms of dates, etc.).
I was a little confused re the pregnancy time period. She would have fallen pregnant around 1850 but was still pregnant in the second world war!! In 2000 her daughter is about 6! Very confusing as I understand Orlando was immortal but no one else. Can someone explain please?
shareThis is what has confused me about the ending, still, after several viewings. Her pregnancy seems to span 140 years. It's never been clear to me if Orlando really lives 400 years, or if he/she is travelling through time and really is only a few years older at the end of the movie than when it started.
It seems implied and mentioned throughout the movie that Orlando actually lives for 400 years, yet the ending shows her "running through time" and then hanging out with her daughter in modern time.
(No, I haven't read the book.)
"You can't tell me nothin' if you ain't had an 8-track." -Sinbad
As I see it, and has been discused in other lines here, the story (book and film) deals with all the different parts of life and society we might meet. Orlanda is all through a "fantastic" character that is cursed/put a spell upon by QE1 and therefore doesn't grow older:
Queen Elizabeth I: But on one condition. Do not fade. Do not wither. Do not grow old.
If there's anything in this story that should be seen as "real"... Nah, would more like to see it as an allegorical story or a metaphorical one. Saw the film today with my 16 year old students - they are so used to see realistic films, or at least films where people doesn't live for 400 years - films where people get killed, I would guess...
A "fantastic" character like Orlando - shouldn't s/he have an extraordinary pregnancy?! Don't analyze these things, it'll just keep you awake at night.
Cheers.
A 140 year pregnancy??
Dear God, how awful.
It's probably WWI because the book ends in the 1920's, in the film, they moved it up to more like the 50's. Orlando ages at roughly a 20:1 rate, so she was pregnant for about 15 years. Also, a few decades pass between meeting Shelmerdine and when the law suits are settled (you can tell by the change in fashion.)
sharethe fact is that Orlando ages, but in a very slow pace; therefore, her pregnancy should also take a long period of time.
if you analyze, her and her daughter are dressed in 1930s outfits, and drive a motorbike of that period too. this means her daughter is also an immortal, and probably does sleep days (maybe years!) at a time. Orlando does not sleep like us, her sleep takes her through ages, you see?