JANE EYRE
UK, Italy, 1996, 112 minutes, Colour.
Charlotte Gainsbourg Borg, William Hurt, Anna Paquin, Fiona Shaw, John Wood, Geraldine Chaplin, Amanda Root, Leanne Rowe, Richard Warwick, Joan Plowright, JosephineSerre?, Billie Whitelaw, Elle Macpherson, Julian Fellowes, Edward De Sousa, Samuel West, Peter Woodthorpe, Maria Schneider.
Directed by Franco Zeffirelli.
Yorkshire looks drab after the Regency period of the Jane Austen movies. And this interpretation of Charlotte Bronte's novel, staying close to the plotline, is more of a storybook presentation rather than a dramatic interpretation.
Franco Zeffirelli has brought Shakespeare and opera to life, but his treatment is fairly conventional here. It is not helped by William Hurt's appearance (he looks ill) and rather stolid performance as Rochester. Charlotte Gainsbourg tends to passive response rather than initiative in her performance which makes Jane too enigmatic, whereas Anna Paquin (from The Piano)) is much more vital as the young Jane. The supporting cast is better, especially Joan Plowright as Mrs Fairfax.
The social background is a rather Dickensian, but the romance and melodrama are fairly bland Bronte. Not that audiences may not enjoy it, but with so many fine adaptations of English literature later, this one is a bit of a pity. Plain Jane, plain movie.
1. The popularity of Charlotte Brontë’s novel? The Victorian story? The touch of the Gothic, the touch of the romantic?
2. The variety of film and television versions? The status of this interpretation?
3. The novel into film, the pruning of the plot? The perspective of Franco Zeffirelli and his filmmaking?
4. Jane and her background, her childhood, Mrs Reed, her aunt, going to the orphanage, the staff and their personalities, the discipline and routines, Jane and her friendship with Helen Burns? Her death? The teaching, learning, Jane learning to be a teacher? Her upbringing?
5. Thornfield Hall, Rochester, audience expectations of him, William Hurt’s presence and performance, his manner? Hiring Jane as a tutor for Adele? His personality, the household, Mrs Fairfax? His being reclusive, the family, his secrets? Bertha and her confinement? The effect on him?
6. Jane, employed, tutoring, teacher? Her manner? Demure and reserved? With Mrs Fairfax? Other members of the staff? Jane strong in her opinions? Her response to Rochester, falling in love with him, the preparation for the wedding?
7. Mrs Fairfax and her presence, influence, relationship with Jane?
8. Bertha, the marriage, her past, the madness, confined, Grace Cool looking after her? Rochester’s relationship with his wife? Her breaking out, setting the fire, her death?
9. The marriage preparation, the influence of Rochester’s brother, the lawyer, forbidding the marriage?
10. Jane, leaving, out in the cold, trying to survive? Going to her aunt, her recovery?
11. The parsonage, the parson, his love for her, the proposal? Her refusal?
12. The return to Thornfield Hall, burnt down, Rochester and his ruin, his sight?
13. Love for Rochester, recovering his sight, the future?
