Directed by Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre from a screenplay by David Magee, Lady Chatterley’s Lover is yet another adaptation of D.H. Lawrence’s novel, one that pushes the envelope in refreshing ways and finds a balance between the characters’ emotions, the issues of class, and nicely filmed sex scenes. The romance is elevated by Emma Corrin and Jack O’Connell’s lovely chemistry, and their affair is made believable because the film is grounded. With so much to offer viewers, Lady Chatterley’s Lover is a strong, romantic, and enthralling adaptation that boasts wonderful performances, and an eroticism that has been missing from the romance genre lately.

Constance “Connie” Reid (Corrin) is newly married to Sir Clifford Chatterley (Matthew Duckett) and is excited about moving forward in her life with a man she loves. But, it’s not long before Clifford is off to fight in World War I, where he is injured and paralyzed from the waist down. Upon his return, the couple moves from London to the Wragby estate, where Connie, now Lady Chatterley, begins to feel trapped in her monotonous daily life. With Clifford no longer capable of having sex, he encourages Connie to choose someone of upper class status with whom she can produce an heir. Connie is put off by this suggestion, but, as she starts to take her daily walks, she meets and falls in love with Oliver Mellors (Jack O’Connell), the estate’s gamekeeper. Due to their class differences and other complications, however, the pair must keep their affair a secret or risk the consequences if it ever comes to light.


Crucially, Lady Chatterley’s Lover takes the time to explore its characters. They never feel thinly written or underdeveloped. Lady Chatterley and Oliver have their individual reasons for keeping their affair a secret, which only deepens their characters and gives the film some proper and non-contrived conflict that slowly builds. The film not only explores the differences in class, but what it means for the characters to be happy. In Lady Chatterley’s case, she is trapped in a marriage that takes more than it gives, with Clifford Chatterley — though believing he loves in his own way — being too self-involved to give his wife the attention and tenderness she craves. Oliver is also stuck in a marriage with seemingly no way out, which bonds him to Lady Chatterley in ways only they can truly understand, providing their relationship with more layers than their attraction to each other.

That said, Lady Chatterley’s Lover doesn’t hold back on capitalizing on the sexual attraction between the pair. There are a good amount of sex scenes that are quite steamy, playful, and erotic. It’s a nice change considering how many romantic films are lacking in that department, as they’ve been fairly chaste and watered down to the point they don’t even include much longing. In Clermont-Tonnerre’s film, there is plenty of desire, palpable tension, and gentle vulnerability throughout. It helps immensely that Corrin and O’Connell have plenty of chemistry together, which greatly uplifts their scenes and makes audiences truly care about their romance. Corrin is assured in her role, balancing the wonder and down-to-earth traits of Lady Chatterley with her yearning and growing sense of self and confidence. O’Connell brings a sense of ruggedness to pair with Oliver’s warmth. Whether apart or together, the actors bring out the best in their characters and each other.


Lady Chatterley’s Lover is very much about the titular character’s sexual awakening and, importantly, standing up for what she really wants out of her life instead of watching as the days pass her by with no happiness or change. Clifford cannot provide her with what she needs despite the fact that she still cares for him, and the film conveys that exceptionally well. All told, Lady Chatterley’s Lover is the kind of romance movie that isn’t made very much anymore. It’s a thoughtful, desire-filled romance that has depth, exploring Connie and Oliver’s hearts and minds, as well as examining class and societal constraints. It’s a wonderful and engaging watch that will surely satisfy audiences.

Lady Chatterley’s Lover played during the 2022 Middleburg Film Festival. The film releases in select theaters on November 23 and will be available to stream on Netflix December 2. It is 103 minutes long and is rated R for strong sexual content, graphic nudity and some language.