By Kritika

Jane Eyre (1997) Review

Name: Jane Eyre
Genre: Historical Drama/ Romance
Director: Robert Young
Adapted from: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Cast: Ciaran Hinds, Samantha Morton, Gemma Jones etc
Rating: 3/5
Duration: 1 hr 48 mins
Language: English
Review
Jane Eyre (1997), directed by Robert Young is yet another cinematic adaptation of the classic novel written by Charlotte Bronte. It is a gothic romance in which a young woman struggling to maintain her independence falls for a dark, brooding and handsome man which redefined the plot of Gothic romances which typically revolved around mysteries and conflict. This version of the phenomenal novel provides little to no justice to Bronte’s remarkable penmanship. ‘Jane Eyre’ tells the story of a young, orphaned girl named Jane Eyre who is bullied by her aunt and cousins after her parents' death and then sent to Lowood School for further studies which is an oppressive and crude institution for orphaned girls. Despite the hardships she faces, Jane grows into a headstrong and independent young woman. After completing her education, Jane decides to become a governess and accepts a position at Thornfield Hall, where she is employed to teach Adele, the ward of the handsome and brooding Mr. Rochester. Jane and Mr. Rochester develop a passionate yet complex relationship, despite the secrets and mysteries surrounding Thornfield Hall. They share a relationship filled with witty conversations, slow build up of a romantic atmosphere and a mysterious forebooding which makes it a timeless tale of love and resilience.

Samantha Morton depicts the ‘Plain Jane’ look perfectly but casting Ciaran Hinds as Mr Rochester might not have been the best choice. His character showcases spouts of aggressive tantrums throughout the movie which are unjustified and seem quite exaggerated to the point of parody. Originally, Bronte’s version is a withdrawn, witty, sensitive and firm man but Ciaran acts as a selfish bully who constantly orders Jane which makes it difficult to believe that romance might ensue between them. His entries and exits throughout the movie seem anti climatic and rushed, and the conversations between them are rather short and vague, ergo the development of intimacy between them seems inconsequential.
Personal Opinion
In my personal opinion, I disliked that they failed to showcase Jane’s visit to her aunt, Mrs Reed, I feel that that was an important portrayal of Jane’s kindness and philanthropic nature. The essence of the novel lies in the blooming of Jane Eyre as a person - she had a deprived and abusive childhood filled with affliction and agony, and only by finding Thornfield and its inhabitants is she able to experience true ecstacy. But it isn’t given much justice in this version of the novel and Jane appears to be in a melancholic and almost daze-like state in a large chunk of the film. There is no subtlety in her performance, her Jane undergoes no major transformation and negligible development. The movie ,as a whole, seems cramped and rushed but certainly it cannot be helped as an enormous book was compressed in under 2 hours which is a terrible idea in retrospect.

Kritika Garg
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