Film: Jane Eyre
Cast includes: Mia Wasikowska (The Kids Are All Right, Alice in Wonderland), Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot), Sally Hawkins (Made in Dagenham), Judi Dench (Casino Royale), Michael Fassbender (Inglourious Basterds)
Director: Cary Fukunaga (Sin Nombre)
Screenplay: Moira Buffini (Tamara Drew)
Genre: Victorian Romance (2011) Based on a novel by Charlotte Brontë
In brief: When a cold, rain-soaked Jane Eyre collapses on a stranger’s doorstep, she is half dead. It is Sinjin (St. John Rivers) who finds her and takes her in. His two sisters nurse Jane back to health as they seek to learn her story. Through flashbacks we get some of the details of Jane’s gothic tale. We see Jane at the home of her evil aunt, Mrs. Reed… where she is living after the death of both parents. Mrs. Reed soon banishes Jane to Lowood, a charity school, and instructs them not to send Jane back, even on holidays. “She has a heart of spite... you must root out the wickedness.”
We soon learn that while young Jane may be unfortunate in many ways, she is honest, plain spoken, intelligent and defiant in the face of adversity. It is through sheer force of will that Jane gets an education and secures a position as governess to a high-strung young French girl at Thornfield Hall. Luckily, Mrs. Fairfax, the housekeeper, makes Jane feel at home in this large gloomy house. As for the master of Thornfield… he’s away most of the time. On the path into town a man is thrown from his horse and Jane comes to his aid. We later learn that the man was Mr. Rochester… the master of Thornfield. And while Jane is a mere servant, her master does seem to enjoy the company of this no-nonsense young lady. And despite the fact that Mr. Rochester is “abrupt and changeful,” Jane gradually develops an affection for him. We see where Jane’s heart is leaning long before Jane herself figures it out. But there are still many obstacles to overcome if there’s to be a happy ending.
Jane Eyre, a wonderful Victorian novel by Charlotte Brontë, has served as the starting point for many adaptations… film, stage and television. Obviously, it’s not possible to reduce the entire, complex story into a movie without some serious editing. And fans of the novel will, no doubt, notice that some favorite parts are missing. The question becomes whether the filmmakers have given us a story that feels satisfying, without feeling packed with poorly explained details. I believe they have. This Jane Eyre is an enjoyable, richly developed story that doesn’t skimp on the emotional development even though it has streamlined the story. This Victorian tale with its steadfast virtues is a welcome escape from 21st century expressions of attention deficit disorder.
3 popped kernels
A rich gem… extracted from an epic Victorian novel
Popcorn Profile
Rated: PG-13
Primary Audience: Grown-ups
Gender Appeal: Any audience
Distribution: Mainstream limited release
Mood: Neither upbeat nor somber
Tempo: Cruses comfortably
Visual Style: High-end production
Character Development: Engaging
Language: Artful
Social Significance: Thought provoking
