Dramatisation of the later life of poet Philip Larkin from his days as a Librarian at Hull University in the 1950s to his death in 1985 – concentrating mainly of his romantic life with three women.
Using privileged access to unpublished letters and recordings of his work which feature across the soundtrack of the film, Love Again, written by Richard Cottan, examines the last 30 years in the life of the poet from his appointment to Hull University Library to his death from cancer in 1985.
The film centres on Larkin’s complex relationships with his mother, Eva, and the three very different women who were his lovers, despite his emotional inability to commit to any of them: Monica Jones, a fellow lecturer who inspired his first published collection of poems, The Less Deceived; Maeve Brennan, a library assistant and strict Catholic; and Betty Mackereth, his stoic secretary.
production details
UK | BBC Two | 1×75 minutes | Broadcast 26 July 2003
Writer: Richard Cottan
Producer: Simon Heath
Executive Producer: Roger Thompson
Director: Susanna White
cast
HUGH BONNEVILLE as Philip Larkin
TARA FITZGERALD as Monica Jones
AMANDA ROOT as MAEVE BRENNAN
LORRAINE ASHBOURNE as Betty Mackereth
EILEEN ATKINS as Eva Larkin
SARAH SMART as Jean Hartley
BEN MILES as George Hartley
