Talented but plagued by her owns demons Sylvia Plath's early relationship with husband and fellow poet, Ted Hughes, is dominated by Ted's ambition and success. In the early years of their marriage Sylvia lacks inspiration and increasingly senses Ted's infidelity. The unspoken question is whether Ted's extra-marital affairs are the result of Sylvia's own insecurities or whether Sylvia's deepening depression is exacerbated by her husbands philandering. It is only towards the end, when they are separated, that Sylvia is able to truly explore the dark depths of her soul and write the searingly brilliant poetry that earned her fame.

Most of the extras in the opening scenes in Cambridge were, like Plath herself, students of the University of Cambridge.

Professor Thomas:
The government cut the electricity.


Sylvia:
Why?


Professor Thomas:
To build national character!

Revealing mistakes: The American scenes are filmed in and around Dunedin in New Zealand where traffic drives on the left-hand side of the road and the vehicles are all right-hand drives. In the scene after Ted has admitted his first infidelity, Sylvia walks out into the rain and gets into the car which is clearly American and has a left-hand drive. But the other vehicles in front, seen in silhouette, while all seeming American, are all right hand drives.