Tim Field

I enjoyed the cinematography which often had the quality of a painting by a Dutch master and the setting at Haddon Hall was impressive, along with a number of the acting performances. However, the film was ultimately a misleading, somewhat indulgent, historical fantasy.

The film seemed less about a dramatisation of history and more an exposition of modern feminist themes.

I really enjoyed this film. An interesting fictional take on events which provides a different perspective. Had me gripped throughout with some excellent acting performances. Glad to see the use of sub-titles for the German based scenes, this adding greatly to the realism of the film.

Although only covering the the first generation characters from Brontë's novel, I did feel this film was a very faithful representation of it, delivered in a powerful way. Rarely comfortable but always interesting and very raw, both in the depiction of the Pennine landscape and stripping the dialogue down to just the key, iconic phrases. Visceral, elemental and skeletal and true to the book's realism and romanticism rather than Hollywood romance which seems to have diasappointed some reviewers.

If there was a point to this film, it hadn't struck me by the halfway stage at which point the crass assault on my sensibilities had forced me to press the ejector seat. If you like films about gratuatous multilation, this one is for you.