In The Edge of Love Welsh poet Dylan Thomas' life comes to the big screen as audiences are offered a snapshot of his existence in 1940s Britain.

The film takes viewers from London during the Blitz to a quiet Welsh coastal village where the plot reaches its dramatic conclusion.

The movie was written by Sharman Macdonald and is based on a selection of love letters Thomas wrote throughout his lifetime to his lovers, including his wife Caitlin.

In The Edge of Love, Macdonald's daughter Keira Knightley fills one of the starring roles.

The film's focus is on the difficult and tenuous relationship that existed between Thomas, his wife Caitlin and his childhood sweetheart and first love Vera (Knightley).

When Vera and Thomas meet as adults, their reunification takes place in the aftermath of the London Blitz.

Vera has left Wales and is living a somewhat glamorous life as singer who is sent into London's underground bomb shelters to entertain the masses. Thomas is a struggling poet who earns a living writing reports for the BBC.

As their rekindled friendship grows, Thomas fails to mention he has a wife and child.

The sudden appearance of Caitlin comes as a shock to Vera and both women size up each other as competition.

This uncomfortable connection to Thomas underlies the film as Caitlin and Vera unexpectedly become firm friends. They are united by their love for the writer, but there's a constant feeling it could quickly fall apart.

Vera's love affair and subsequent marriage to serviceman William Killick only serves to further complicate the relationship and ultimately leads to the film's dramatic climax.

The Edge of Love is an interesting film. The sets, the intersection of (presumably) original vision of the London Blitz with contemporary scenes and stunning landscape photography make for a visually engaging film.

The acting is solid across all the roles and Matthew Rhys as Thomas is especially impressive. He brings to his role a selfishness, passion and charm which makes Thomas engaging.

Sienna Miller is both gusty and beautifully fragile as Thomas' loving, yet unfaithful wife, and provides a stark contrast to Knightley's character.

Knightley's performance is perhaps the best of her career as she convincingly tackles both song and a Welsh accent for the role.

The Edge of Love is a film for those who like sweeping period pieces and for people keen to hear Thomas' poetry in the context in which it was written.