Wild Nights with Emily (2018)

We liked this depiction of poet Emily Dickinson as an amorous lesbian trying to get published poems about her beloved. Because much of the dialogue is Dickinson's poetry, it takes a while to get used to the pace. There are actually more than a few laughs in there, too.

As Emily (1830-1886), Molly Shannon (last blogged for Private Life) combines pathos and lust. Susan Ziegler (looked familiar but I'm not sure from what) is her loving sister-in-law Susan Gilbert Dickinson (1830-1913). Some pretty girls play Emily and Susan as the young women who discover their passion.

Writer/director Madeleine Olnek is new to me but I'm tickled by (you should forgive the expression) the names of her two previous features: Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same (2011) and The Foxy Merkins (2013), both of which starred Ziegler. Olnek and others have uncovered some verification, documented in the movie (don't turn it off before the credits!), of Emily and Susan's affair.

Beautiful classical music plays throughout. I've downloaded the press kit and listed the music credits below.

Averaging 89% from Rotten Tomatoes' critics and 62 from its audiences, this left our metro area two weeks ago and I'm not sure where you can see it now. However, the DVD can be pre-ordered from Amazon, so perhaps it will be on Prime Video at some point.

Musical ensemble:

Violin PAULINE KIM

Violin FILIP PAGODY

Bass CARLOS BARRIENTO

Flute ANNA URREY

Cello CLARICE JENSEN

Viola KENNY WANG

Oboe RYAN WALSH
Piano KARL FRID & PAR FRID

Songs:

PIANO SONATA NO. 30 IN D MAJOR HOB.16-19 Music by Joseph Haydn
PRZEBUDZENIE JAKUBA Music by Krzysztof Penderecki
REQUIEM: LACRIMOSA & CHORALS Performed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
EMILY SWEET WALK Music by Frid & Frid
PIANO SONATA NO. 30 IN D MAJOR HOB. 16-19_03 FINALE. ALLEGRO ASSAI Music by Joseph Haydn
EMILY OP.311 PIZZ Music by Frid & Frid
EMILY MENUETT IN G Music by Frid & Frid
LAVENDER BLUE (DILLY DILLY) Arranged by Frid & Frid
THE WELL TEMPERED CLAVIER, BOOK 1, PRELUDE NO2, IN C MINOR Music by Johann Sebastian Bach
VARIATIONEN UBER 6 VOLKSWEISEN” OP 105-4 (THE LAST ROSE OF SUMMER) Music by Ludwig van Beethoven
EMILY SWEET SUSAN PIANO Music by Frid & Frid
HIGGINSON WALTZ Music by Frid & Frid
THE LAST ROSE OF SUMMER Performed by Lawfame Violin
THE WELL TEMPERED CLAVIER, BOOK 1, PRELUDE NO2, IN C MINOR Music by Johann Sebastian Bach
THE YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS Performed by Lee Eaton
IMPROMPTU #4 IN A FLAT MAJOR, D.899
Music by Franz Schubert
BILL CHEATHAM - THE FIDDLER DIVERTIMENTO IN C MAJOR “DER GEBURTSTAG” Music by Joseph Haydn
LA CAMPANELLA Music By Franz Liszt
EMILY PLAY PIZZ Music by Frid & Frid
FOUR HANDS ONE PIANO Music by Frid & Frid
ACH HERR MICH ARMEN SÜNDER BUXWV 178 Music by Dietrich Buxtehude
INTRODUCTION AND VARIATIONS ON DI TANTI PALPITI Music By Gioachino Rossini
EMILY SWEET SUE ELEGY G 60 BPM Music by Frid & Frid
EMILY OP. 311 PORTAMENTO Music by Frid & Frid