Emily

Emily is a real shame as it is a film that had some great promise but failed to engage me.

This is largely because I felt like I was never actually let behind the curtain, and was kept at a frustrating distance from the characters. I never got under the skin of Emily, or any of the Bronte's really, and left the film with far more questions than answers. For a biopic, even a highly embellished one, this is unforgivable.

Given what the film was trying to achieve and the angle it took, I was surprised by how little emotion was stirred in me. I wanted to feel more watching this film but just never felt like I was part of it.

This lack of connection and emotion wasn't helped by the fact that the colour palette (whilst appropriate) was very bleak, the runtime was quite unforgiving, and the acting was rarely noteworthy.

Unfortunately all this adds up to create an unremarkable film about a remarkable woman. Which in itself is an impressive feat I suppose.

"Emily", the debut directorial effort of English-Australian actor, Frances O'Connor, is focused on Emily Bronte from the late teens to the finishing of her only novel "Wuthering Heights". She was the middle of the three remarkable young ladies who made a mark on English literature in the mid 18th century. The movie is worth seeing for the trip back to the time and place, aided by the authentic Yorkshire setting and the excellent cinematography by Nanu Segal. Acting was generally good and Frances shows potential as a director. I felt it could have been a bit shorter and tighter. Music was pleasant and unobtrusive apart from a couple of times it built up to a portentous rumble --and nothing happened.

Emma Mackey looked the part as the introverted but then wilful and free spirited Emily, the 'smouldering' nearing 11. Fionn Whitehead was fine as the wayward artist brother Branwell who was expected to be the shining light. The 'close' relationship between brother and Emily may be largely fiction as was the romance between Emily and the curate. There apparently was some sibling rivalry as suggested in the film, but that is endemic where there are siblings. And Charlotte did value Emily's work.

Despite the liberties with the story, I gained some feeling of the place and time, and more admiration for the achievements of those three young ladies in their brief allotted time. I shall re-read "Wuthering Heights".

Recapping the Brontes; There were 5 progeny. The 2 eldest girls died as children, probably from Tb and possibly helped by the privations of a dodgy 'charity school' for parsons' children. The famous trio were- Charlotte, 1816-1855, -"Jane Eyre"- died at 39.

Emily -"Wuthering Heights"-1818-1848, 30, Tb.

Anne -"Tenant of Wildfell Hall"- 1820-1849, 29, Tb.

One son, Patrick Branwell 1817-1855, 31, Tb.

Their mother died young. They were raised by the widowed parson father and an aunt.

What a wicked, wicked film this is and the depths to which non-academics misunderstand Wuthering Heights reeks throughout this lush and engaging period drama.

Emily Bronte never had an affair, she never married, and she is quoted in an earlier biopic from 1979 in her preference for friendship over the fleeting illusion of romance, in her preference for holly over wild dog's roses.

Wuthering Heights is many things but it has never been a silly romance novel. The first thirty pages or so are hilarious pitch black comedy, making a mockery of middle class manners in the rudeness and brutal company of "the inmates of Wuthering Heights."

As the story of Heathcliff and Cathy unfolds, it becomes readily apparent that Heathcliff is a full blown sociopath and Cathy is criticized for throwing her life away on him. The last 200 pages of the book feature a psychopathically evil Heathcliff, a dead Cathy, and a rather obvious derision of their unholy union in favor of other characters like Nelly Dean and Cathy's daughter Catherine.

Someone who doesn't have the background in literature to understand the novel should definitely not be making a movie about Emily Bronte's life, but it's a fun film if you can get over the horror of the blatant lies.

Emma Mackey gives a strong performance as the central character in this drama; she is charismatic and beguiling, an emotional display (though at times this does stray into the histrionic). Whilst the director's intention is to provide a portrayal of the character and inspiration behind Emily Bronte, rather than a straight biopic, the amount of artistic licence used does undermine the credibility of the story. It is implied that the failed romance between Emily and the local curate provided the inspiration for Wuthering Heights, yet this romance did not happen; the characters in the story do not question the idea that the girls might want to become published writers - but society's prejudice at the time meant that they (and Mary-Anne Evans - George Eliot), all had to publish under male pseudonyms. Charlotte is portrayed as a prissy school ma'am - it's hard to imagine this person writing a classic like Jane Eyre. Ann, also a published novelist, is virtually written out of the story. It's a visually attractive film, but unconvincing, and ultimately, rather disappointing.

Frances is a decent actress ..and technically she is semi decent director so far..but as a creator of art..she is far from it we had many of those ( reimagining of famous authors lives ) in which these authors were seen through their works and made part of it.. the results were absurd always from ( shakespeare in love ) to ( becoming jane )..till this one.. these fictional works suggest a writer can not write anything not autobiographical ..that there is no such thing as imagination ! Or simply these authors lives were so boring unless we spice it up by a spicy love affair...that has no source in real life actually the handsome curate in question has never been linked to this bronte AT ALL in any source.. rather it was the other tow who were allegedly connected to him ( as he was alleged to have been interested in anne in a platonic sort of way ) but alas .. all of this is so boring for todays public and creators.. so we make emily bronte something of a DH lawrence INSTEAD I cant wait for tolstoy biography inspired by anna karenina ..next.