Set in the rigid social environment of Victorian England, "Affinity" tells the fascinating story of Miss Margaret Prior, whose repressed life is awakened when plays the role of the altruistic visits a women's penitentiary. When she fatefully counsels a spiritualist found guilty of crimes of abuse in her seances, Miss Prior finds herself enmeshed with the sensitive young woman named Selina Dawes.
The film successfully juxtaposes the physical prison where Miss Dawes is incarcerated with the highbrow prison of Miss Prior's upper-class home, where she is misunderstood and made to feel like a pariah. The truth about Miss Prior's predicament is slowly revealed when we learn that she had a deep physical and emotional attachment to Helen, who broke off the relationship to marry Miss Prior's brother. Helen then "buried" her past attachment to Margaret, who still feels the emotional trauma of the loss.
The inmate Selina Dawes is perceptive is immediately recognizing Margaret's vulnerability. She slowly leads Margaret on, claiming that "You are my affinity!" Margaret buys into the outward expression of Selena's expression of love, setting herself up for the big fall.
One of the most interesting characters is Margaret's maid named Ruth Vigers. Miss Vigers breaks up an attempted rape, rescuing Margaret from the clutches of a male suitor. But Miss Vigers is playing a dangerous game that will not be revealed until the end of the film.
There were times when this interesting historical drama loaded with insights into gender lapsed into (intentional?) comedy. The flashback scenes of the seances conducted by Selena and her associate named Peter Quick were outlandish, especially when Selena began roaring like a lion in a masculine voice.
What began as a straightforward British period drama evolved into high camp with the over-the-top lion's roar. The film blended styles of Downtown Abbey, grand guignol, and Lifetime Channel melodrama in an entertaining costume piece. In the end, the character who truly steals the show is Miss Vigers.
The film successfully juxtaposes the physical prison where Miss Dawes is incarcerated with the highbrow prison of Miss Prior's upper-class home, where she is misunderstood and made to feel like a pariah. The truth about Miss Prior's predicament is slowly revealed when we learn that she had a deep physical and emotional attachment to Helen, who broke off the relationship to marry Miss Prior's brother. Helen then "buried" her past attachment to Margaret, who still feels the emotional trauma of the loss.
The inmate Selina Dawes is perceptive is immediately recognizing Margaret's vulnerability. She slowly leads Margaret on, claiming that "You are my affinity!" Margaret buys into the outward expression of Selena's expression of love, setting herself up for the big fall.
One of the most interesting characters is Margaret's maid named Ruth Vigers. Miss Vigers breaks up an attempted rape, rescuing Margaret from the clutches of a male suitor. But Miss Vigers is playing a dangerous game that will not be revealed until the end of the film.
There were times when this interesting historical drama loaded with insights into gender lapsed into (intentional?) comedy. The flashback scenes of the seances conducted by Selena and her associate named Peter Quick were outlandish, especially when Selena began roaring like a lion in a masculine voice.
What began as a straightforward British period drama evolved into high camp with the over-the-top lion's roar. The film blended styles of Downtown Abbey, grand guignol, and Lifetime Channel melodrama in an entertaining costume piece. In the end, the character who truly steals the show is Miss Vigers.