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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.

Emma Mackey is really quite strong in this imagining of the life (and love) of "Wuthering Heights" author Emily Brontë. Portrayed as a rather shy and reluctant woman, she lives in the shadow of her successful teacher sister Charlotte (Alexandra Dowling) with her somewhat wayward brother Bramwell (Fionn Whitehead) under their outwardly imperious father Patrick (Adrian Dunbar). Remember this is set at a time when women were little more than chattels, and her father hoped that she would follow her sister into one of the few professions readily available to ladies of the day. The arrival of curate "Weightman" (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) causes many an heart to flutter and after a rocky start, the two begin to bond... This is a great looking film, shot at the original West Yorkshire home of the Brontë family and together with the almost biblical amounts of thunder and rain, the whole setting is effective in delivering a sense of just how this family lived their life in rural 19th century England. The cast work well together, there is an increasingly engaging - if somewhat bamboozling towards the end - chemistry between Mackey and OJC and there is a sparing degree of dialogue. The story is very much of the woman, and not so much of her writing, and it develops using a potent combination of the powerful score, bleak scenery, some humour - usually deriving from the antics of Bramwell - and from our own imagination, to make this so very different from many similar style period bio-dramas. I didn't think that pace was a problem, but it is a slow burn. The establishment of the characters takes it's time, so don't expect it to hit the grass running. That said, though, I found it a thoughtful and characterful depiction that smacks well of plausibility, love and of mortality, too.

Emily is a great period drama that announces writer/director Frances O'Connor as someone with clear talent and one to watch and further proves lead actress Emma Mackey's burgeoning stardom with a story that's funny, tragic and full of natural beauty.

Emma Mackey gives a true tour de force performance, earnestly portraying Emily's shy nature and vivid imagination whilst also having an infectious rapport with Fionn Whitehead (great) and some truly fiery chemistry with Oliver Jackson-Cohen (also great).

Frances O'Connor's direction is excellent, utilising handheld camera work to great effect with some very stylish framing but it does overuse cutting to black. The music by Abel Korzeniowski is amazing, beautifully balancing moments of whimsy with a more classical score.

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.

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.

This is is well-directed and well acted with beautiful photography. It is loosely based on Emily Bronte's life and depicts events which are mirrored in Wuthering Heights. It is not hard to find factual errors eg.it was Anne who had the relationship with William Weightman, but if you just treat as a story in its own right, it is a great piece of film-making. I was reminded that the films: Becoming Jane and Shakespeare in Love, were also about famous authors used failed romances as the impetus to write. I noticed that the first edition of her book had her own name inside the cover. Like her sisters she wrote under a pseudonym: Ellis Bell.

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.

EMILY surprised me. I was expecting a run-of-the-mill period biopic, but it quickly took a turn for toward the extraordinary. Little is known of Emile Brontë. So, Frances O'Connor has embraced the freedom of the absence of historical information to make a riveting fictional, yet authentic-feeling story. The result is a beautiful and mesmerizing exploration of the life of one of the world's most influential authors.

The film follows Emily Brontë as she discovers her passion for writing and begins to craft what would become one of the most beloved novels of all time. We see her struggles with family dynamics and gender expectations, along with her love affair with local curate Weightman.

The acting is superb, particularly from the lead actresses playing Emily (Emma Mackey) and her younger sister Charlotte (Alexandra Dowling). Their interactions are a highlight of the film, demonstrating the bond between the sisters despite their different ambitions and ideals. The chemistry between Emily and Weightman is also well portrayed, making for some genuinely touching moments.

The visuals are stunning, from the stormy Yorkshire moors to the grandiose period settings. The costume design and cinematography bring Emily's world to life in vivid detail, making it feel like a living, breathing place.

EMILY is an enjoyable and thought-provoking film that deserves more attention than it's been getting. It captures Emily's struggles with poignancy and humour, without ever feeling over-sentimental or melodramatic.

Director, Frances O'Connor, has crafted a beautiful and powerful movie that accurately captures the spirit of Emily Bronte's work.

Over-long, plotless and pointless with a highly improbable, corny drawn out story line. If I had been on my own I would have left an hour and a half earlier!! Overall the acting was mostly wooden with fluctuating accents from main characters. There was far too much atmospheric thunder and heay rain (its not like that in Yorkshire!) in outdoor and some indoor sequences. Predicatble story. Filled with groan inducing cinematic cliches too numerous to list and discuss here. The six star rating is for the authentic looking interior sets and excellent lighting . I sure that I will soon forget it. But some might like it.

This would be 9/10 if it were based solely on Emily Mackey's acting. Genius. Aren't we all in love with her, and in Sex Education, too. But I think in a biopic, you shouldn't rampantly ignore all information about your characters. Charlotte Brontë is portrayed as lively and gay, even a flirt. In actuality, she was reserved, intense, somewhat awkward, albeit yes, the most worldly of the sisters. In the first scene of the movie, she rails at Emily, saying Wuthering Heighte is ugly, with selfish characters, and where did that come from! This is what Victorian critics said about the book. Charlotte was a fierce defender of her sisters' literary ventures. The father is portrayed as affable, as is the brother, when in actuality they were both prone to outbursts of abusive, behavior, domestic violence, and the brother, total alcoholism, which lead him to an early death. This is where the "ugliness" came from, same with the alcoholism in Anne's novel. The sisters shared what they wrote, reading it aloud before the fire. Yes, Emily was the weird recluse, but Charlotte never thought that held her back or made them all look bad.

You'd think the writer or director would bother to read, oh, one or two Bronte biographies, but it seems like they only watched a couple of YouTube videos and then forgot about them, though remembered movies about Jane Austen's novels and did some of that, but with Moors. I walked out after 20 minutes and restrained myself from turning around to the audience and declaring, "This is an abomination!" I had to listen to Kate Bush sing Wuthering Heights 3 times after (more true to the Gothic spirit of the Brontes), to purify myself. What's really sad to me is that even the NYT critic raves about it. She has a masters in film studies and I suspect hasn't read the novels or biographies either. Anyway, rant and rail, how could they?

The Life and Inspirations of Emily Bronte, although how factually accurate all of it was is questionable.

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Still, it perfectly captures the desolate and isolated setting of the moors as well as the trappings of a creative mind in a strictly regulated society and the pain and drama of forbidden/unrequited love.

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It felt a bit too long towards the end, but I enjoyed it and it was interesting throughout with plenty of events, great acting and good use of music.

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Overall, I would score this film as a nine out of ten.

I was so looking forward to this film. The Bronte sister's are my favourite authors. With Charlotte being my all time favourite.

I had such high hopes for this film when I first saw the trailer. However, I just found the film extremely dull.

There was no gusto, no life to it at all. I was not enthralled, or endeared to the characters. If anything I was annoyed by the characters.

I know the Bronte sisters, like any sisters, obviously had their ups and downs. However, this film made Charlotte out to be absolutely terrible.

I do not think the film was well cast at all either.

Usually with films such as these I will want to buy them for my collection and watch them time and time again, with this though, I would not be bothered watching it again. So sad.

I love the Brontes, I've read their books and visited the parsonage. Love hearing about their short and talented lives.

This film is a bore and a travesty. Was the writer aware they lived in Yorkshire? The cast have feint accents but not as we'd expect.

To boost the boring dialogue we have a love interest for young Emily and graphic sex scenes (of course! How can a film be made without them!)

Of course, like the film about Mary Anning, todays film makers have to slur their subject's character. Mary (played by Kate Winslett- who I won't forgive for portraying her) is suddenly a lesbian. Of course she is, two women can't be good friends without some hanky panky). Emily can't be a young woman living her sisters, no she is mentally unhinged and jumps into bed (in this case the barn ) with the first man who shows her attention.

The film was one l o n g bore. It should be re-titled the sex life of Emily. Dreadful.

"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.

The film portrays a wholesome story surrounding Emily Bronte: the quirky personality that she offered and the challenges she faced that inspired the writings of Wuthering Heights.

The casting proves well with characters being consistent, delivering a believable and emotional story.

Many scenes showed a beautiful authenticity of the era while some were shocking: for example a more thrilling and scary scene which was exciting and tense and very unexpected.

Scenes are elegantly segregated in parts by wonderful showings of the Yorkshire moors and horizons which is effective in setting the mood for calmer scenes and dialogue. At the same time, the films soundtrack consists of relevant piano music which is inviting and warming.

Greetings again from the darkness. These days, it seems like we know entirely too much about the personal and professional lives of writers, actors ... well, just about everyone. Of course, it wasn't always like that. And taking that to an extreme is the all-too-brief life of Emily Bronte. Imagine if someone wrote a book today as popular and terrific as "Wuthering Heights". We would likely know the name of their pet, their spouse, and where they eat lunch. For Emily Bronte, the details are not only scarce, but also not totally trustworthy, given that much of it comes from her older sister who had a touch of envy, or at least a competitive edge.

Frances O'Connor (known as an actor in such films as AI: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE and MANSFIELD PARK) chose a dramatic imagining of Emily's life as her first feature film as writer-director. Emma Mackey (DEATH ON THE NILE, 2022) stars as Emily Bronte, and turns in a really nice and believable performance as someone whom we can only imagine her life in the 19th century. The reputation is that of someone who was socially awkward, and a bit of a sickly recluse. We do know that she died at age 30. We can also relate to the opening scene when Charlotte asks an ill Emily "How did you write it?" (referring to "Wuthering Heights").

In fact, filmmaker O'Connor likely based her entire script on that question, and what she presents is quite interesting - regardless of how accurate it might (or might not) be. Emily and her younger sister Anne (Amelia Gething) spend days constructing stories together, and then Emily takes it further by writing poetry. As the eldest sibling, Charlotte (Alexandra Dowling) is the favorite of their father (Adrian Dunbar), a priest at the local church. Emily is known as "the strange one", despite her beautiful piano playing, and mostly secret writing skills.

Emily and her brother Branwell (Fionn Whitehead, DUNKIRK, 2017) have an unusual bond. He's a troubled young man weakened in spirit by spirits (the alcoholic kind). All of the dynamics shift quickly when William Weightman (Oliver Jackson-Cohen, MR MALCOLM'S LIST, 2022) arrives as the new curate. His sermons are a kind of poetry and this intrigues all Bronte sisters, especially Emily. As Weightman teaches her French, their relationship transforms from one of butting heads to one of clandestine intimacy ... and both are changed.

Although the film does explore the effect of the mother's previous death, in real life, this family faced even more grief from death ... including Emily's at age 30. The sibling rivalry is a believable aspect, as Emily wrote "Wuthering Heights" and Charlotte wrote "Jane Eyre" (and a portion of "Emma"). With such a legacy, we have been left to wonder what became of Emily's other writings, and Ms. O'Connor offers up one idea. The proof of Emily's brilliance and talent is on the page for all to read, however, we will never truly know her inspirations and desires. Kudos to Frances O'Connor and Emma Mackey for filling in the gap ... even if we will never know how close or far from the truth they landed.

Opening February 17, 2023.

Emily: An imagined life of Emily Bronte, setting out events which might have inspired her to write Wuthering Heights. Emily (Emma Mackey) has a torrid affair with her father's young curate, William Weightman (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) she is also led astray by her brother Branwell (Fionn Whitehead) who introduces her to alcohol and opium. Emily suffered from social anxiety so these drugs may have been a crutch for her, Mackey puts in a powerful performance, ranging from gloom and downcast eyes to ecstasy and then determination as Emily seeks fulfilment in literary endeavours. She wanders the moors like Cathy seeking Heathcliffe. Her sister Charlotte (Alexandra Dowling) always seems at odds with Emily, yet is also caring when Emily breaks down at school, she also vies Weightman's attentions and seems to be inspired (out of jealousy) at Emily's achievements to write Jane Eyre, Adrian Dunbar is the Patriarch of the Bronte household and channels Supt Hastings rather than DI Ridley with his fearsome sermons from the pulpit, fortunately he doesn't sing. The gray dark skies (the rain puts Angela's Ashes to shame) and starkly beautiful Yorkshire moors and heaths are also stars in this narrative. A sombre scene is captured during a game of charades when Emily dons a mask and transforms the amusements into a seance. A wonderful tale brought to life by Frances O'Connor who Wrote and Directed the film. 8.5/10.

Emily

Not really a biopic more a total fictional flight of fancy. The Brontë society will be aghast, however as a fluffy fictional amusement it kinda worked.

Emma Mackey, despite an overworked sullen look most of time, grappled with the material she had been given and it was good. We did have some very good supporting parts, the father, the curate but Bramwell part was not that good.

Of course, the genesis of the these great novels is; highly educated women, under utilised by society, trapped altogether in a miserable place and competing and critiquing each others work, not interesting I know but there you go.

Of course there is no evidence of a fling with the curate as an explanation of the passion in Wuthering Heights, a tall story but we needed something interesting.

I'm giving this a 6 outta 10, meaning an interesting watch!

First. The things I liked: the music the costumes the fact that it was filmed in Haworth and roundabouts it's beautifully shot.

However, it veered so far away from anything known about about Emily's character or known facts about the Brontes as to be hilarious!

Snogging your employer's wife in church in Victorian Yorkshire? I don't think so!

Some events and even names lifted straight from Wuthering Heights and presented as real life.

The extremely reserved Emily transformed into a raving hysterical nutter with attachment issues.

Emily and Wuthering Heightskerp inspiring film makers, but anything that does do either justice remains sadly elusive.

A semi-Brontë-biopic mostly concerned with raw emotional drama tinged with gothic horror is it seems appropriate, written and directed by Frances O'Connor with plenty to say it's also a refreshing perspective, if a little clunky in moments. It is not fun to watch but nor was Emily's life fun to live by all accounts, especially her own..! That subject is expertly dealt with, and viewers with no knowledge of her novel will I think be left in little doubt of the likely themes and content, what a cinematic achievement. It's at times such a painful story that clearly an actor with power in reserve is needed and while I struggled a little with Emma Mackey as cast I was quickly absorbed by her performance and left devastated by the realisation of her character's trauma. A reminder maybe to be kind to all even and especially those with a prickly persona, as we are all shaped by our experiences and life is sometimes brutal, naive personal relationships among the sensitive can be a disaster waiting to happen, especially poignant in this story as the tragic missed opportunities for redemption resonate around the rolling and occasionally-quite-damp landscapes of Yorkshire, with individual moments referenced in reflective vignette. Nanu Segal's cinematography is excellent.

I think this kind of artistic interpretation, built from personal perspectives and reflecting great literature, is fantastic and much-needed, and I hope to see more of it from people who really know and care about their subject, in this case Brontë is understood and then laid out for all to see and feel and I think it will really affect people.