Excellent news, Amanda. 
Did you see I'm Not There in theatres? (I never got the chance..)
Heya,
Nope, I've never seen
I'm Not There before (and I still haven't watched it yet). One of the main reasons I got it is to see if I think it might be a movie my Dad might like (planning gift ideas for down the road...) because he's a major Bob Dylan fan.
I have, now at this point seen
Affinity though! I just finished watching it.
My advice to Lee now that I've seen it is... I definitely recommend finishing reading
Tipping the Velvet (and/ or watching the DVD of Tipping the Velvet) before you watch
Affinity.
Tipping the Velvet is definitely Waters' most promient story and I think it's the best story to start with. I think you'll probably find
Affinity really interesting and thought provoking, but it has a very different spin to it and different tone/ emphasis in general compared to
Tipping the Velvet.
First Review, with some spoilers, but not really too many. Mostly overall description... ***
Following on my recommendation to Lee above... essentially, in a nut shell,
Tipping the Velvet is a much happier story.
Wow is
Affinity intense! It's a beautiful production. The costumes, sets, etc. are really lovely and interesting and the actors are very good. It's nice that it's simply one movie and not chopped into different episodes. But, man, is it depressing and almost brutal. It's a very thoughtful, interesting story (as we know from the book). But, at this stage I'd forgotten how different the overall direction of
Affinity is from something like
Tipping the Velvet. If someone is looking for a positive story about lesbian relationships and the potential for solid and romantic lesbian relationships, then
Tipping the Velvet is the story/ DVD to turn to for sure.
Affinity goes way in the other direction. But, it's a very good film.
One of the good things about Waters as a storyteller, I think, is her capacity for the "surprise twist"... best illustrated in
Fingersmith IMHO, but also done very well in
Affinity. In
Tipping the Velvet Waters is good about introducing both positive and negative characters, situations and scenarios with regards to lesbian relationships, identity and lesbian society. And,
Affinity is the same way with a much bleaker overall outlook and heavier emphasis on the negative. The protagonist is such an earnest, likeable character that your heart just bleeds for her and the circumstances she endures. So, the protagonist is the primary "positive" element (as far as lesbian identification goes) while the plot and characters that swirl around her are so difficult.
The whole subject of Spiritualism in Victorian society is interesting enough. It seems like such a mysterious aspect of Victorian society and it's really amazing to realize how popular amd prevalent it was.
I'll hold off on saying much more until other folks have watched it.
