Jane Eyre, based on the novel by Charlotte Bronte - 9.6 out of 10

Jane Eyre, based on the novel by Charlotte Bronte
9.6 out of 10


This is a remarkable, modern, yet faithful rendition of the classic novel, adapted for the modern viewer by an acclaimed director, half Japanese and half Swedish I hear, Cary Joni Fukunaga.

Mia Wasikowska is memorable in the title role of Jane Eyre, the rejected, strong, lonely but resilient, loyal and gritty, resourceful, brave, self sacrificing heroine.
She has the benefit of a first part in her life where she doesn't suffer privations, although we could argue that this makes even harder to bear the following period, where she is cast away and forced to accept the position of governess, which doesn't seem much better than that of servant.

Jane Eyre has a good progress in the education of the child and thus, when Rochester aka imposing Michael Fassbender returns to the mansion, he is pleased with the work.
Nonetheless, their first encounter is awkward, for the horse is scared when the heroine comes in his way, throws Rochester down, who needs the help of the then stranger, whom he would later accuse, perhaps jokingly, that she is a witch and she cast a spell on his animal.

The master of the house is rather outre, has a peculiar behavior and we would later see that indeed, given the trauma, the overbearing secret task he has had to deal with, we can see how his attitude would be severely affected by the unknown adversity he had to face daily.
One night, there is a fire - for the few who read this and are unfamiliar with the quintessential classic, let us just say that a mysterious personage starts the fire - and Jane is the one ho saves the life of the master and presumably the others who live in the mansion.

Eventually, Rochester appears to prefer his governess to the woman that most people think he would marry, but Mrs. Fairfax aka legendary Judi Dench warns her and advices the young woman to keep away, for many masters encourage feelings and emotions in the girls they have on the payroll, only to deceive and send them away.
Nonetheless, this man is different and he really wants to marry Jane, albeit on the big day, there is another obstacle in the way, the fact that he is already married!

Alas, this is the catastrophe in his life.
He explains to his would be (second) wife, that would make him bigamous, that his father had wanted this union, because of the fortune involved.

After a period, his spouse would show her true colors, eventually become mad and then make him face the choice.
In a mental institution, in those days, they kept patients in cages and tortured them...indeed, only decades ago, electric shocks were used on patients.

Rochester has spared his wife that fate, but she has been a constant threat to the lives of those live with her under the same roof and she is the reason her husband cannot marry.
Jane runs away and let's stop here, avoiding spoiler alerts for the isolated reader who wants to see or read about the end on his or her own.