Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, directed by Mike Nichols, is a landmark film that helped spark the New Hollywood movement. With its biting cynicism and transgressive language, Nichols boldly challenged the constraints of the American Production Code, marking a turning point in cinematic storytelling.

The film captivated both critics and audiences, who were stunned by its raw, unflinching exploration of adult life. Garnering Oscar nominations in every category for which it was eligible and winning five, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? became one of the most successful directorial debuts in Hollywood history.

In the film, Elizabeth Taylor delivers a transformative performance as Martha, the daughter of a university president and wife to George (played by Richard Burton), a history professor. To fully embody the bitter, middle-aged Martha, Taylor famously gained 30 kilos, shedding her glamorous image and embracing the role with astonishing vulnerability. Her portrayal, which earned her an Academy Award, strips away her reputation as one of the world’s most beautiful women, revealing instead a woman consumed by contempt—for her husband, and for life itself.

Nichols deftly dissects the pretentiousness of bourgeois life. At 2 a.m., Martha invites Nick, a young biology professor, and his wife Honey to their home for what quickly unravels into a tense and toxic evening. Through forced laughter and uncomfortable silences, Martha and George engage in vicious mind games with their unsuspecting guests, turning their domestic discord into a public spectacle of cruelty.

The atmospheric cinematography by Haskell Wexler, also Oscar-winning, intensifies the film’s emotional volatility. Wexler’s use of close-ups and jarring camera angles draws the viewer into the characters’ inner turmoil, vividly capturing the grotesque contortions of faces twisted in rage and despair. Over the course of one night, the film delves into complex themes of marriage, lust, and societal expectation, as these four characters navigate a psychological battleground of conflicting desires.

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? remains as relevant today as it was at its release, with its fearless critique of the social values we are often taught to accept. The film strips away the façade of masculinity and marriage, cutting to the bone and revealing the emptiness beneath. Its caustic, methodical approach captures a spectrum of conflicting emotions, offering a piercing look at the complexities of love—an emotion that is as misunderstood as it is revered.

An undisputed masterpiece.