The original idea behind this latest movie version
(the 17th) of this much beloved romantic 19th Century
novel was to give it a glam Hollywood treatment with stars like Natalie Portman
and Michael Fassbinder attached to play the leads, but the moment that Brit director
Andrea Arnold came on board it was inevitable that this would be anything but
that. Arnold who won an Oscar for her first
short movie, has made a name with her gritty realistic dramas, and that is
exactly the spin she took when she wrote the screenplay for this, her 3rd
feature length narrative.
(the 17th) of this much beloved romantic 19th Century
novel was to give it a glam Hollywood treatment with stars like Natalie Portman
and Michael Fassbinder attached to play the leads, but the moment that Brit director
Andrea Arnold came on board it was inevitable that this would be anything but
that. Arnold who won an Oscar for her first
short movie, has made a name with her gritty realistic dramas, and that is
exactly the spin she took when she wrote the screenplay for this, her 3rd
feature length narrative.
Arnold’s stunningly bleak mist ridden Yorkshire moors
filmed in half light and shadows are the setting for a very contemporary take
on the doomed love story between the servant Heathcliff and Cathy the daughter
of the House. Filmed without any incidental music and just the cruel fierce
winds and the constant pounding rain as the soundtrack which dramatically heightens
the tensions of the struggle that Heathcliff in particular must endure as the
adopted son who is hated by his siblings.
And to make him even more of an outsider, Arnold controversially casts
James Howson an untrained black actor as Heathcliff.
filmed in half light and shadows are the setting for a very contemporary take
on the doomed love story between the servant Heathcliff and Cathy the daughter
of the House. Filmed without any incidental music and just the cruel fierce
winds and the constant pounding rain as the soundtrack which dramatically heightens
the tensions of the struggle that Heathcliff in particular must endure as the
adopted son who is hated by his siblings.
And to make him even more of an outsider, Arnold controversially casts
James Howson an untrained black actor as Heathcliff.
With its sparse script the movie focuses on its
visuals to tell the story that is filmed mainly with hand-held cameras. The cast of enthusiastic first-timers put in
very believable performances, but the love story that shines through however is not theres but the one
that Arnold has with the beautiful Yorkshire landscapes.
visuals to tell the story that is filmed mainly with hand-held cameras. The cast of enthusiastic first-timers put in
very believable performances, but the love story that shines through however is not theres but the one
that Arnold has with the beautiful Yorkshire landscapes.
With a overly long running time of 2 hours the film
drags a tad too, much especially in the second half, but it is an interesting
edgy and unexpected take on Miss Bronte’s work, and although she may turn over
in her grave at the very idea of it, I for one am pleased I got to see it.
drags a tad too, much especially in the second half, but it is an interesting
edgy and unexpected take on Miss Bronte’s work, and although she may turn over
in her grave at the very idea of it, I for one am pleased I got to see it.
P.S. Now I am curious to see other versions so if anyone has
a copy of ‘Arashi ga oki’ the Japanese version made in 1998, please let me know. And maybe the earlier treatment for 1955 from
Mexico which naturally is titled ‘Abismos de pasión’.
a copy of ‘Arashi ga oki’ the Japanese version made in 1998, please let me know. And maybe the earlier treatment for 1955 from
Mexico which naturally is titled ‘Abismos de pasión’.
★★★★★★★★
Labels: classic, period drama, romance
