Sylvia

Set in the 1950s and 60s, Sylvia traces the intimate bond between poets Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes as their lives collide with rising fame, fragile health, and the expectations that come with genius. The film follows their first meeting, the electric attraction, and the early years when shared dreams shape both work and marriage. It highlights the pressures of editors, critics, and the public eye, while also showing private rituals, quiet conversations, and the stubborn loyalty that keeps them close even at a distance. As Plath struggles to find her voice and Hughes negotiates acclaim, their partnership becomes both inspiration and strain, revealing the human cost behind literary legend. The film also weighs how memory colors their choices.

Directed by Christine Jeffs, Sylvia is adapted from John Brownlow's script and drawn from the lives of the celebrated couple. Gwyneth Paltrow headlines as Plath with Daniel Craig portraying Hughes, delivering a measured character study rather than a sweeping epic.

With a budget of 7 million, the film earned roughly 10 million worldwide. The modest financial footprint reflects a niche release focused on mood and performances rather than broad commercial appeal in select markets and festivals.

While not a cultural phenomenon, the film did spark conversations about Sylvia Plath beyond poetry circles. Critics noted its restrained approach to biography and praised the performances for bringing a haunted, private dimension to a well known literary figure and her marriage.

Critics were divided on pacing and tone, yet many valued the intimate, actor driven focus on a fraught relationship. The film probes how ambition can shape love and how fame reshapes private lives, illustrating the tension between creative impulse and domestic duty. It treats memory as a lens that colors both poets work and personal histories, offering a thoughtful portrait rather than a definitive biography.