Jane Eyre Movie
A new version of Jane Eyre has just been directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga who directed Sin Nombre and the screenwriter Moira Buffini who is best known for Tamara Drewe (Jane Eyre, N.d.). The story is set in the nineteenth century and is based on a novel by English writer Charlotte Bronte. It was originally published on October 16th, 1847 by Smith, Elder & Co. Of London, England, under the pen name "Currer Bell." Later, the first American edition was released the following year by Harper & Brothers of New York. The book was written from a first person perspective and much of this book was adapted to fit the movie. Although the movie was ahead of its time and included some aspects of sexuality, religion, and proto-feminism, these aspects were dramatized and many gothic elements. Some have referred to it as a "Reader's Digest" version of the novel (Federicis, 2011)
Movie Overview
The movie tells the story of Jane Eyre who is played by Mia Wasikowska flees an estate to work as a servant of a child. She gains employment as governess to a French ward at Thornfield Manor, a spooky country estate governed by the mysterious and wealthy Mr. Rochester and despite their difference in social status, chemistry clicks and this odd couple fall in love (Federicis, 2011). The rest of the story is told with a Gothic romantic slant that includes a scary madwoman...
The movie begins with a flashback of Jane's troubled childhood.
Before suspense really comes into
play, the movie shows the orphaned Jane who is mistreated and then cast out of her childhood home. She eventually ends up at the charity school Lowood. It's a modest education but it is better than none and Jane makes a friend who she likes. However, her friend becomes ill and passes away. This has several emotional implications for Jane however it somehow does something to strengthen her will. She is stronger and tries to make good decisions in her life.
As a teenager Jane arrives at Thornfield. For the most part she is treated well but she is often board. Though relieved with her situation, Jane is clearly restless with the quiet isolation of Thornfield, and tells Mrs. Fairfax that she wished that a woman might have as much action as a man in her life to which Mrs. Fairfax kindly advises her to take a walk to clear her mind, and gives her some letters to mail (Stella, N.d.). On this trip she stubbles upon a man with a black horse that falls off the horse as Jane startles it. She later finds out that this is Rochester, the owner of the property.
Jane is intrigued by a
character called Rochester. This character is witty and tells her stories. The two fall in love. In the book, Rochester is described as a brooding ugly man possessing a pronounced sexual allure; however, the dashing Michael Fassbender certainly doesn't look the part, but broods well, and again, establishes a rush to
identity to curtail the novel's lengthy passages but he hides a dark secret conveyed through facial worry lines, piercing glances, and an…
