This year is far from over but already we have such a wonderful array of movies to indulge in. That said when offered such a buffet one longs for the comfort of a home cooked meal. The Classic Jane Eyre story is the most comforting and enchanting romances of all time. The 2011 remake is one of the best book-to-movie adaptations to date. Mia Wasikowska’s portrayal of Jane is so good that it’s possible Charlotte Bronte traveled into the future, went to the movies, saw her in Alice in Wonderland and decided that was her Jane Eyre.
In this tale of Jane and her Mr. Rochester we find the original romance of the poor girl finding true love in the arms of a dark brooding hero. A poor orphan girl neglected by her relations and sent to a poor school grows up and takes up the position of governess at Thornfield Hall. Here she meets her love, a Mr. Rochester, but just before she can marry and seek eternal happiness with her beloved, a terrible secret is unveiled in the form of a very much living and mad Mrs. Rochester. Rather than live in sin with the person she loves the most in the world, she makes a moral choice and runs away to be free from temptation. Finding sanctuary among strangers she rebuilds her life and is fortunate to receive a substantial inheritance from a long lost relative. With affairs of the heart still unresolved she returns to Thornfield Hall and discovers the calamity that befell Rochester in her absence. With his wife now dead and Thornfield in ruins the two lovers reunite.
What makes this film the best so far is not just the stellar performances from the two leads but how faithfully it adheres to the author’s telling. The imagery and haunting music merge well to give a really authentic feel of Victorian times. The chemistry between the two leads is also very satisfying. Michael Fassbender is well suited to the role of the dark and brooding Mr. Rochester, this talent seems to have translated just as well in his portrayal of Magneto in X-Men: First Class. Even the self-serving, self righteous character of St. John is well done by Jaime Bell.
For true fans of the romance genre, the best stories are those that give us an unlikely encounter with our true love, an obstacle that must be overcome and an eventual happy ending. Jane Eyre does not disappoint in any of these areas.