By 
Tipping the Velvet – 4 stars (Excellent)
What makes Tipping the Velvet a great movie is its talented cast with a great presentation, and it has a meaningful, life-changing lesbian message about innocence, desire, passion, betrayal, empathy, change, independence, ingenuity, vision, love. and happiness, maintaining a sense of self-esteem and self-worth.
It’s incredibly unusual to see an alternative lifestyle movie with a happy ending.
I review controversial movies because ultimately they are about relationships and relationships are the foundation of our lives.
As I get older I understand that the most important things in my life have nothing to do with money or material things, and everything to do with my relationships involving my wife, children, grandchildren, extended family and friends. . What matters in the long run is people’s well-being, not whether we agree or disagree with their lifestyle choices.
The BBC has done a tremendous service in bringing this film to television in the quality of a BBC broadcast including great writing, great sound, great cinematography, great direction and a great cast.
Based on Sarah Waters’ acclaimed debut novel, Tipping the Velvet was adapted by Andrew Davies, an Emmy Award-winning British screenwriter who also wrote “Doctor Zhivago,” “Bridget Jone’s Diary,” “Sense and Sensibility,” “Vanity Fair.” and “Pride and Prejudice”. Davies is a very talented heavyweight.
Tipping the Velvet tells the story of Nan Ashley (Rachael Starling, Diana Rigg’s real-life daughter) shelling oysters and serving customers at her father’s seaside restaurant in Victorian England during the 1890s.
Nan’s mundane life is turned upside down when she sees an extraordinary performance by a handsome traveling male impersonator named Kitty Butler (Keeley Haws). Nan’s innocent interest is fueled when Kitty asks her to become her dresser while she performs at Whitstable.
When Kitty is recruited by Walter Bliss (John Bowe) and heads to London to become a top entertainer, she invites Nan to come along as her dresser. Nan falls in love with Kitty, joins her act as an artist, and eventually the two become secret lovers. For Nan the relationship is euphoric and her real happiness until she returns home from a vacation trip to discover that Kitty and her manager Walter have become lovers and are getting married.
Nan’s initial innocence and desire is now met with betrayal and rejection. Despite being devastated, Nan awakens from her stupor and asserts her independence by walking the streets of London disguised as a young man for hire, performing oral sex on her in order to survive. When she is mugged, Nan is rescued by a wealthy widow who provides her with all the comforts in exchange for lesbian sex. Nan becomes a prisoner and slave to her passions to please and be pleased.
Finally, there is a scuffle and the widow, Diana Leathaby (Anna Chancellor), kicks Nan out, where she is left penniless and left to fend for herself with nothing but the clothes on her back. Despite her misfortune, Nan vows to survive. Nan now learns of the plight of those in need and asks for help from the only person she can remember, Florence Banner (Jodhi May), whom she had met before in better days.
Florence and brother Ralph Banner (Hugh Bonneville) reluctantly take in the battered and exhausted Nan for one night, but Nan is determined to change her ways. She gets resourceful to convince Florence and Ralph that she can clean, cook, and take care of the baby the Banners are raising.
Nan’s vision is to become so indispensable that she will remain welcome in the Banner house despite her 7-year journey from innocence to unbridled passion to debauchery, recovery, and finally wellness and acceptance. Finally, Nan and Florence fall in love. Kitty then returns to Nan’s life once more when Kitty, wanting to resume her torrid relationship with Nan, learns that her Nan has returned to performing on stage.
Nan is then forced to decide between the attractive and passionate Kitty and the more loyal and caring Florence. For once, Nan makes the wise decision to stay with Florence and find the love and happiness she wanted but never had. The ending is what makes Tipping the Velvet such a great movie. When all is said and done, Nan and Florence survive in their relationship as well-adjusted adults who find each other and go on to live with their self-worth and self-worth intact.
Aside from a few awards from lesbian theater groups, Tipping the Velvet was largely ignored by critics, and especially by Hollywood. That’s why I write reviews, to separate the wheat from the chaff and acknowledge the substance in filmmaking wherever it exists.
The more knowledge and understanding we have of people, races, cultures, customs and lifestyles, the sooner we will come to understand that we are all connected. We tend to value acceptance and tolerance only when they are taken away from us. “Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.” John F. Kennedy said it and I believe it.
And what does “tilt the velvet” mean? See the film, not to know what it means to turn the velvet, but because it is an excellent film about alternative lifestyles. Support movies that increase understanding and acceptance.
(Editor’s note: This is part 2 of a 2-part review.)
Copyright © 2007 Ed Bagley