Bright star (2009)

 

Genre: Romance/Drama            

Time: 2hrs        

Director: Jane Campion

Quick summary: John Keats, an English poet, and his dressmaking neighbor, Fanny Brawne, have total disregard for each other. An unlikely romance develops and they fall deeply in love with each other.

Every word that John Keats says is absolutely beautiful in my opinion and this movie captures them so wonderfully. As soon as the film starts there is an unmistakable feeling of floating and gentleness. It's heavily romantic and overall very very very pretty to look at with an overall theme of flowers blooming everywhere. 

The story follows John Keats, a real poet, and Franny brown a seamstress. It unravels their love story over three years as they struggle against oppression and discontent towards their relationship. 

There's an overall blissful nature in most scenes between the two, as they slowly fall deeply in love. They didn't seem to get on at first, and it would have been a very unlikely match. Fanny is strong-headed and is very high up on the social ladder, compared to his quiet and melancholy nature, a lot of people scoffed at the idea.

Their love is very transformative and brings comfort to each other. You can see this through the poetry that John wrote during his years with Fanny, which is scattered throughout the film. Each word is very magical and emotional and adds to the blissful nature of this film. 

It isn't very plot-heavy, although you do find yourself getting lost in the film's dreamy aura. The way it captures normal activities and just shines them in the most beautiful light I have ever seen. Each shot is deliberate, wanting you to understand the importance of what is being focused on. But commonly, the focus is shifted throughout scenes softly, almost to say, Hey, pay attention to how he watches her walk across the room. Or watch how gentle her expressions become as she talks to him. I honestly love that, and it gives so much towards their blossoming love. It's almost like poetry but with cinematography in how it flows ever so smoothly, basking your senses in delight.

What is wonderful about the love between the two is that isn't sexual at all, and the film really shows it. In one of their last moments together, they lay in bed together and Fanny says to John she allows him to do anything he wishes to her, but he chooses to simply lie and look into her eyes which happens to be one of my favourite shots in the film.

They long for each other, even when they are rooms apart from each other simply wanting to experience life with each other. The tone becomes very heavy towards the end, but that does not break the infatuation between the pair. Honestly, this film grabs you by the senses and makes you feel very deeply.

7/10

• "I almost wish we were butterflies and liv'd but three summer days - three such days with you I could fill with more delight than fifty common years could ever contain

• "My love is selfish. I cannot breathe without you"

• "For myself I know not how to express my devotion to so fair a form: I want a brighter word than bright, a fairer word than fair."