Taglines: An Elegant Seduction. An Erotic Deception. A Stunning Revelation.
Angels and Insects is a study of a family of country gentry in Victorian England. William Adamson, a young scientist, is introduced into the Alabaster family by Reverend Mr Alabaster who is also fascinated by insects. William marries the older daughter of the family and studies the amounts of insects in the garden of the villa. His – for the gentry – strange behaviors reveal at the same time their own failures and passions.
Angels & Insects is a 1995 American-British romance drama film directed by Philip Haas. It was written by Philip and Belinda Haas with A. S. Byatt after her novella Morpho Eugenia (included in her book Angels and Insects). It stars Mark Rylance, Kristin Scott Thomas, Patsy Kensit, Jeremy Kemp, Anna Massey, Annette Badland, Saskia Wickham, Michelle Sylvester, Clare Lovell and Jenny Lovell.
The film was made on location at Arbury Hall in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, the home of the 3rd Viscount Daventry. The costumes worn by Kensit and the other actresses were designed in bright colors and bold patterns to evoke the appearance of insects, which would earn the film an Academy Award nomination for Best Costume Design.
In the marriage proposal scene, Patsy Kensit’s gown was treated with female sex hormones to attract the moths to her. 6,000 ants were brought in initially for the forest colony scenes, but they walked off before filming. Another 6,000 were brought in as a replacement, only for the original 6,000 to return.
Angels and Insects (1995)
Directed by: Philip Haas
Starring: Mark Rylance, Kristin Scott Thomas, Patsy Kensit, Jeremy Kemp, Anna Massey, Annette Badland, Saskia Wickham, Michelle Sylvester, Clare Lovell, Jenny Lovell
Screenplay by: Philip Haas, Belinda Haas
Production Design by: Jennifer Kernke
Cinematography by: Bernard Zitzerman
Film Editing by: Belinda Haas
Costume Design by: Paul Brown
Art Direction by: Alison Riva
Music by: Alexander Balanescu
MPAA Rating: R for strong sexuality and graphic nudity.
Distributed by: The Samuel Goldwyn Company
Release Date: November 5, 1995
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