A TIMELESS TALE

IT’S always a risky venture when literary tales are taken from the pages of classic novels and thrust on to the big-screen.

Based on Charlotte Bronte’s novel of the same name, this adaptation is sure to baffle and delight audiences in equal measure.

The only reason I say that is because the dialogue is frightfully archaic and British, which may mean that some of the subtleties may well go over the head of a non-British viewer (truth be told, some of it went over my head too).

The story revolves around a young orphaned girl named Jane who struggles to overcome a cruel upbringing by her wicked aunt, Mrs Reed.

Mrs Reed is charged with taking care of Jane after her parent’s death and she doesn’t much appreciate the inconvenience of having to do so. She’s a nasty character who seems to take pleasure making Jane miserable, showing her very little emotion or kindness.

One day, after fighting with her bullying cousin, Jane is punished by being locked in the room in which her uncle died.

While locked in the room, she sees her uncle’s ghost and faints, only to awake in the care of the gentile Bessie and pharmacist Mr Lloyd. The pair suggests to Mrs Reed that Jane should attend boarding school which, to Jane’s delight, she agrees to.

After years at the totalitarian school, which is initially not much better than her previous home life, Jane begins to settle in and eventually takes a teaching position at the school.

However, after a while, she starts longing for new experiences and challenges, so she accepts a job as governess in the truly bizarre Thornfield Manor.

Unfortunately, her new boss is a grumpy, yet strangely appealing, man named Mr Rochester (played by Michael Fassbender).

Fassbender does a great job with his aloof and esoteric role which is important because his character is a vital part of the mystery in the story. Although he is often gruff and stern, Jane still takes the time to try and get underneath the bravado and eventually she sees his softer side.

Over time, and against her better judgment, she develops feelings for him and can’t decide whether to yield to duty or desire.

Jane is played by Mia Wasikowska, who shot to fame after staring as Alice in Tim Burton’s gothic delight, Alice in Wonderland.

She simply shines in the role of Jane and manages to play the part with a quiet grace and dignity well beyond her years. Big praise must also go to the make-up artists and hairstylists for making a naturally pretty girl look frumpy and plain.

It’s impossible to have a good story without a hefty dose of conflict, it’s what makes the story gripping … and this film is all about the conflict between opposites.

In fact, there are several different themes of this nature dominating the sub-plot, some examples include: the conflict between duty and desire, men and women, upper class and lower class etc (but since this is a film review, not a book report, I’ll stop there).

I’m not usually a fan of dramatic movies because real life is often dramatic enough for my liking, however, this is a film it’s hard not to enjoy.

Showing in Cineco, Seef II and Saar Cineplex