Pascale Ferran’s faithful take on Lady Chatterley is unlike any version seen on the big screen. D.H. Lawrence’s celebrated story — about a repressed World War I-era wife, whose sexual awakening comes courtesy of her invalid husband’s gamekeeper — leisurely unspools at more than two and a half hours. But the foreplay is crucial. Lady Chatterley (a perfect Marina Hands) and the horny handyman sniff each other out during the first third of the film. When they finally end up on the floor of his shack, their naked passion is palpable. And Ferran doesn’t turn away from the naughty bits: When the couple famously weaves flowers in each other’s pubic hair, audiences are treated to a close-up view of the action. It’s a thoughtful and heartfelt adaptation.
Fri., Oct. 12, 9 p.m.; Sat., Oct. 13, 7 p.m.; Sun., Oct. 14, 1:30 p.m., 2007

This article appears in Oct 10-16, 2007.