Portrait of a Marriage is the story of the tempestuous relationship of Vita Sackville-West and Violet Trefusis-Keppel. After five years of marriage Vita's husband, Harold Nicholson, confesses his homosexuality.

Ironically, at the same time Vita's childhood friend, Violet, tells her that she has always loved her. This is the beginning of the women's passionate and moody relationship.

Disguised as a married couple, they stay in hotels, spending an exciting and romantic time in France. Vita feels homesick for her children and guilty for betraying Harold but, back home, postpones telling him the truth.

When Violet marries Deny Trefusis--under the condition that they have no sex--Vita becomes jealous, afraid she'll lose Violet. They meet again and decide to spend their lives together. Both tell their husbands. As the women are on their way to the South of France, the men decide to follow and bring them back home.

Vita is portrayed as very ambivalent; incapable of hurting Harold because of her tender, sweet nature and incapable of forgetting Violet because she is passionately in love with her. Since this reflects the point of view of Vita's son, Nigel Nicholson (he wrote the book that the film is based on), it is understandable that he was happy his parents found one another again.

The story is about the relationship between two women, Violet and Vita. Vita's husband confesses his homosexuality.

It is an absolutely convincing portrayal of a marriage that, although between two people who found most of their sexual release in homosexual contacts, was a loving partnership that far surpassed many conventional marriages.

Janet McTeer is, of course, amazing and the scene between her and Cathryn Harrison (who plays Violet) when their relationship dissolves due to Violet's impending marriage is heart-breaking.

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