In 1929, Virginia Woolf is starting to write her novel, 'Mrs. Dalloway, ' under the care of doctors and family. In 1951, Laura Brown is planning for her husband's birthday, but is preoccupied with reading Woolf's novel. In 2001, Clarrisa Vaughn is planning an award party for her friend, an author dying of AIDS. Taking place over one day, all three stories are interconnected with the novel: one is writing it, one is reading it, and one is living it.

Based on the book by Michael Cunningham. Special features: Commentary by Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore and Nicole Kidman; commentary by director Stephen Daldry and novelist Michael Cunningham; introduction by the filmmakers; 4 featurettes: "Three women", "The mind and times of Virginia Woolf", "The music of The hours", "The Lives of Mrs. Dalloway"; theatrical trailer.