This sensitive, compelling and amazingly true-to-the period piece does what every good movie adaptation should do: it remains true to the details and essence of the original, yet offers the filmmaker's skilled vision to soar beyond it.
The movie is at one and the same time a valuable journey into the psyche and sensibility of the artist, a fitting portrayal of a woman who can be categorized fully neither as a lesbian nor as straight woman but must be seen happily simply as a lover, and a beautiful, well-paced stroll through the between-the-World-Wars period of the English speaking world.
Mrs. Stevens is worth seeing...in fact it's worth seeing repeatedly for all the nuances of dialog and subtleties of setting...and for the sheer beauty of it.
The cast (the older and younger Hilary are both stunning), the writer/director, the producer and all those who helped birth this independent film deserve kudos; the film deserves the widespread distribution that surely awaits it. Its audience among academics, women, artists, and the generally thoughtful is sure to be large. I can't wait to add it to my collection.