See The Sun

Jane Eyre

Thursday, February 8th, 2007 | Book, Film | No Comments

I have just seen the most recent adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s classic, the 2006 BBC miniseries. And I can’t stop thinking about it. I feel the same I did when I read the book years ago. I’ve always loved the novel but never any adaptions. I was starting to think I maybe misunderstood the book. But now with this new excellent film I’m as much in love with this story as ever.

I did love Anna Paquin in the 1996 version as the young Jane. The part of Jane’s early years is still the best in that adaptation; even when taking into account the many deleted scenes from that early part of Episode 1 in the new film I still prefer the other version. Charlotte Gainsbourg as the grown up Jane however, was just plain, lifeless and quite self righteous. How such a spirited and strong-willed young girl could grow up into such a woman, I could never understand.

Samantha Morton as the grown up Jane Eyre in another film was quite good actually, she did the best she could with the script. But I’ve never liked any Mr. Rochester.

The problem with the story I suppose is that it is very complex, subtle at the same time as dramatic, subdued as well as enormously passionate. Mr. Rochester especially is one of the most complex characters, nothing is black and white with him. It is only over the course of time that the characters are fully revealed for who they really are. And 90 minutes are just too short a time to do that justice. That’s the big advantage of the new film - it streches over 4 episodes.

While I deeply love the Pride & Prejudice story, the love between the characters is rather superficial when compared to the love bond that develops in the Jane Eyre novel. Through the talks (which have substance) and time spent together Mr. Rochester and Jane Eyre really get that bond of love that allows them to cry across space. Their connection really is intellectual, emotional and passionate. And I felt all that in the new film.

Why I identify so much with Jane: she’s passionate, but also intelligent, her passion covered under something more quiet. She’s a combination of the clichés: a person thinking with the heart and the mind. That’s how I feel about myself. And just like Jane needed Mr. Rochester (and the year spent with the Reeds and living an independent life) to become the strong and mature woman she is at the end I think I need someone (or something to happen) to help me become who I really am.

Apart from doing all of the above justice, I also love the new film for its visual beauty. The northern rugged countryside, the fog and almost mystical atmosphere when the 2 meet for the first time and how the leading actors are believably plain and not-handsome (when judged at first appearance) while at the same time being attractive and more so as we get to know the characters. As Jane says: Beauty is from within, who you are.

Yes, dialogue has been changed, alterations have been made. If one want to find fault with this one, one will. But what’s the point of making a new adaptation if you’re doing the same as in all the previous ones? I for one can accept these changes and love both the original dialogue from the book and the one here. To me it is important that I can feel the story, the characters, the love, the passion, the emotions. And clearly I do.

The only ‘fault’ is maybe the change of how St. John found out who Jane really was. The way it is in the book, that he finds her painting with the signature feels much better. And the final scene is simply lifeless compared to what we’ve seen in the past four episodes. But then, I suppose, it’s hard to top something as passionate. North & South was less obviously passionate during the 4 episodes, so it was quite easy to make the most beautiful & romantic final scene ever. Sandy Welch (the screen writer) is talented. I love ‘Jane Eyre’, ‘North & South’ and ‘Our Mutual Friend’, all adapted by her.

The Other Boleyn Girl

Tuesday, December 12th, 2006 | Book | No Comments

Ever since I’ve heard about this book being made into a film (first there were the rumours about Keira getting a part, then it was announced that Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson got the main roles) I was thinking about reading it. When I saw it at the local library I started reading it. I loved it. I just can’t come to terms with what the book presents as facts but are widely looked upon as untrue according to encyclopedias. But that’s the way it is with fiction I suppose. I truly hope that the film will be able to capture the books atmosphere and spirit. The first still looks promising, the actresses look the part. To cast 2 actresses who are not only very talented but also bring a special glow & charisma to the screen was a great choice. I think the personality of the characters already transpire from these pictures. I can’t wait to see this film!!

Hating series

Thursday, November 23rd, 2006 | Book | No Comments

I’m the first to admit that upon finishing a good book I’d love to have a continuation of the story. However, in reality they’re often disappointing because there’s only so much plot to a story until it becomes forced. What I hate is that at the moment all the promising stories turn out to be part of a series. I don’t want to buy all of these books, once read they’re just in the way. And libraries are often missing one book. Also it seems that the writers fill the pages with endless descriptions of rooms, clothes, hairdos, etc or get lost in background stories for the characters. Seems to me a profit-making business: stretching out a story over as many books as possible.

Then there’s of course the authors who are doing the endless descriptions thing in a normal novel. Just read one by Josephine Cox. I bore all of those and the almost pathetic descritpions of the most heartfelt love ever only to find out at the end of the quite long novel that there was no happy-end. Surely, I deserved at least that in this case?! Good quality writing as well as gripping stories sure do come along seldom.

Onegin

Thursday, October 19th, 2006 | Book, Film | No Comments

I’ve fallen in love with the film Onegin. The visuals and Liv Tyler are simply breath-taking. And I even liked Ralph Fiennes in this. I know when the film was coming out in the US I read everything about it I could find online and I had bought the original novel by Pushkin with movie stills. However, at that time I wasn’t that fond of tragic stories so I forgot about it again, and I must have also disposed of the book because I can’t seem to find it anymore. But now, being older (ha, ha…) I appreciate the story of the film much more. I think I’ll have to get my own copy of the DVD, renting it doesn’t seem to be enough.

Maggie O’Farrell

Friday, October 13th, 2006 | Book | No Comments

I absolutely loved Maggie O’Farrell’s first novel After you’d gone. I was simply amazed at how layered her storytelling was. I was slightly disappointed by the 2nd but again adored her 3rd one The Distance between us, but still none was quite as amazing. Now I’ve read her latest The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox - and I felt this was finally holding its own opposite her debut novel. It’s simply stunning how she gets the thoughts of all these characters across, each having their own mind pattern. And how perfectly the 2 stories of different periods are interwoven! And we can certainly be grateful for the many achievements in psychological treatments that have been made in the last decades – even though there’s still space for progress!