The Rainbow (1989) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The story unfolds primarily across the rural, affluent Derbyshire farmstead of the Brangwens before shifting to the crowded, industrial streets of London's East End. It also touches on the distant backdrop of the Second Boer War in South Africa. These settings contrast provincial comfort with urban hardship and global conflict, shaping Ursula's journey from childlike wonder to adult responsibility.

• derbyshire
• london east end
• south africa
• setting
• locations

The movie is set in the final years of Queen Victoria's reign and into the dawn of the 20th century, spanning approximately 1890s to 1901. This period was characterized by social constraint and shifting gender roles, capturing rural aristocratic life, the rise of urban schooling, and the beginnings of organized labor movements.

• victorian era
• late 1800s
• early 1900s
• historical period
• queen victoria

The Rainbow explores three interconnected themes: romantic awakening through an unconventional same-sex relationship that challenges social norms; independence and agency as Ursula pursues education and social activism rather than traditional domestic roles; and class and social change, contrasting privileged rural life with urban hardship and working-class exploitation.

• themes
• romantic awakening
• independence
• class
• social change
• women's autonomy

Ursula Brangwen is the eldest daughter of a wealthy Derbyshire landowner, portrayed by Sammi Davis. She grows from a curious, imaginative girl into a confident young woman whose quest for meaning is framed by her fascination with rainbows. Her journey involves challenging conventional norms through romantic awakenings and pursuing autonomy through teaching and social activism.

• ursula brangwen
• protagonist
• main character
• teacher

Winifred Inger, played by Amanda Donohoe, is Ursula's older mentor-figure and romantic connection, serving as a swimming and gym teacher. She embodies female agency within a constrained Victorian society, balancing personal affection with social obligations. Her subsequent marriage to Ursula's Uncle Henry creates tension and underscores the conflicts between desire, loyalty, and societal expectations.

• winifred inger
• mentor
• teacher
• romantic relationship

Anton Skrebensky, portrayed by Paul McGann, is a student who becomes Ursula's lover and later plans to enlist in the Army. Representing youthful ambition and idealism, he goes off to fight in the Boer War and ultimately ends their romance, pursuing his own path abroad. His character represents the tension between personal desire and duty to larger causes.

• anton skrebensky
• lover
• boer war
• army

The movie contrasts privileged rural life on the Brangwen farm with the harsh realities of urban schooling and working-class injustice in London's East End. Ursula encounters ill-disciplined schools, child labor exploitation, and stark class divisions, which prompt her sense of social responsibility. The film critiques entrenched hierarchies while exploring the potential for reform through education and activism.

• class struggle
• social inequality
• london east end
• child labor
• working class

The Rainbow shows Ursula pursuing education, teaching, and social activism rather than accepting a traditional domestic role. Her choices reflect a broader shift toward personal and professional self-determination in the late Victorian era. Through her relationships with Winifred and Anton, as well as her career decisions, the film explores the tension between individual desire and societal expectations placed on women.

• women's independence
• victorian women
• gender roles
• autonomy
• self-determination

The Second Boer War in South Africa serves as a backdrop that interrupts personal lives and reflects the era's imperial mood. The war influences the characters' choices and loyalties, particularly affecting Anton's trajectory as he enlists and leaves Ursula. This global conflict places the personal narrative within a wider imperial context that shapes the characters' futures.

• boer war
• south africa
• imperialism
• historical context

The Brangwen family includes Ursula's father Will, a wealthy Derbyshire farmer who counsels his daughter on life's choices; her mother Anna, who anchors the family's emotional center while supporting Ursula's growth; Uncle Henry, a wealthy, socially ambitious figure who marries Winifred; and Ursula's younger sisters Gudrun and Molly, who represent the continuing thread of the Brangwen lineage during a rapidly changing era.

• brangwen family
• will brangwen
• anna brangwen
• uncle henry
• gudrun brangwen